will be there at 9. Good evening. I'd like to call to order the regular city commission meeting for this the 8th day of December 2025 at 6:00 p.m. >> Can I get a roll call please? >> Commissioner Dison >> here.
>> Commissioner Mercer >> here. >> Commissioner Dancler >> here. Mayor Proton Yates >> here. >> And Mayor Birdong >> here. We will have an invocation by Pastor Jonathan Winfrey of the Redeemer City Church. And we be led in the pledge of allegiance by Vanessa Castillo, MMC
city clerk. Please stand if able. Let's pray. Father in heaven, having just finished Thanksgiving, we're full of gratitude as we gather uh and as we begin another commission meeting, we're grateful for these our commissioners, our city manager, the many department directors, supervisors, employees,
volunteers. Thank you for their varied contributions and the specific skill sets that you've entrusted to them. Thank you for the city of Winter Haven. It's a privilege to get to live here and we are grateful for many, many things. The beauty that surrounds us, which is a testimony to
your creative genius. We are grateful for these leaders, leaders who've gone before us, those who have led and served and labored for the flourishing of our city. And so tonight, we ask for wisdom for these our commissioners as they deliberate, especially as they consider
planning and purchasing things as well as small and large decisions. We ask for humility as they hear from the community. Help us community members to follow them cheerfully to disagree respectfully and encourage them in the hard work of public service. Lord God,
would you give them a real sense of how to promote the public good, which is a precious trust that these commissioners and the employees of this city are called to steward faithfully on our behalf. Give them grace to know the good and the true and the beautiful as they
make decisions that affect real people, their fellow residents. And ultimately, we pray that their leadership might result in this little part of your world being a bit more beautiful because they've led us. Would they look to you, oh Lord, for a courageous vision whose
fruit others would enjoy for years to come? Bless these our leaders and would you continue to bless and prosper the city that we love. This we ask in your name. Amen. >> Amen. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it
stands nationy and justice for all. Okay, we have no presentations. We have no developments of note. We have minutes. >> Mr.
>> There aren't any minutes. Next is comments from the audience and um three people have signed up to speak and uh Dan, you signed up first, but you're going to be last because you want
to speak on item 10B. And so the first person is Ken Henry that would like to address us on item 9A. But what I'm going to do, Ken, is we are
going to um when I open the public hearing, then I will allow you to come forward and speak. Okay. All right. Ordinance is uh second reading public hearing 02536.
Would you read by title only uh city uh attorney? >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-25-36, an ordinance amending ordinance 23-25, the 2035 Winter Haven comprehensive plan by revising the future land use map series by amending the future land use
on one parcel and a portion of another parcel from neighborhood suburban future land use to neighborhood support future land use, repealing all ordinances in conflict with providing for the administrative correction of scrier's errors and providing an effective date. The general location, the subject property is generally located at the
northeast corner of the intersection of Thompson Nursery Road and Cunningham Road and south of Thompson Nursery Road, approximately 330 ft east of Cunningham Road. The area covered by this request is 46.21 plus or minus acres. Thank you.
>> Thank you, city manager. Mayor Commissioners VMARD Deev LLC and Cunningham Investors LLC request the city amend the 2035 future land use map from neighborhood suburban future land use to neighborhood support future land
use and reszone the same parcel and a portion of another parcel from planned unit development uh zoning district to commercial highway C3 zoning. This subject property is 46.21 21 plus or minus acres and is generally located at
the northeast corner of the intersection of Thompson Nursery Road and Cunningham Road and south of Thompson Nursery Road approximately 330 ft east of Cunningham Road. Subject property is currently subject to PUD Ordinance 02172.
The parcel located north of Thompson Road is an open space tract in Villimar phase 7. The portion of a parcel located south of Thompson Nursery Road was intended to be Bilar phase 8 and consists of 219 single family homes. The
petitioners proposed to develop the property with commercial uses. The table within your chart identifies the infrastructural impacts. There's no direct financial impact to the city with these requests. The
planning commission at its November 3rd, 2025 regular meeting voted to recommend approval of these requests. Two members of the public spoke with concerns about traffic, flooding, and potential crime. Staff's review of these requests yields
the following conclusions. The proposed neighborhood support future land use and C3 zoning district is consistent with the subject property's frontage on an arterial road in close proximity to intersections with collector roads. The city's 2035 comprehensive plan
encourages commercial uses to focus into nodes centered around key intersections within the city. Further supporting this request is the presence of 1,792 residential units in the Bilar subdivision alone and presence of 1,000
plus additional housing units within a short distance. Close proximity these neighborhoods to this proposed development has the ability to reduce the number of and the length of vehicle trips onto the surrounding roadway network through a more compact development pattern is
advocated in the comprehensive plans transportation element objective 2.1 and finally there is sufficient public infrastructure capacity to accommodate the maximum theoretical development under C3. Staff recommends the city
commission approve ordinance 02536 on second and final reading. Thank you. >> Thank you commissioners. >> Yes. >> Make a motion to approve ordinance 02536 on second reading of public.
>> Okay. Thank you. I will now close the commission meeting and open the public hearing. And at this time would uh Ken Henry please come forward. State your name and address for the record and you'll have five minutes. >> Thank you. Uh my name is Ken Henry.
Address is 366 Teranova Boulevard in Winter Haven. Um I'm a resident of Win of Teranova. Uh but also represent the uh regional community council which represents about 13 neighborhood
communities in the southeast area of of Winter Haven. Um I was away uh at the time of the planning commission meeting so I I was unable to attend that but heard a great deal from several of our residents in Teranova uh including the
president of our HOA who's with me this evening who attended that meeting. The concern that that they voiced primarily uh began with the concern of of having a commercial development pllopped down right in the middle of a
residential district. Uh and the homeowners whose properties back up to that portion of Villar uh received letters from the planning commission that the the proposal was to be discussed. Uh they were concerned that
despite all the concerns that they raised at that planning commission meeting, uh there seemed to be just no concern for those folks' concerns. to put it simply, um they felt that they were pretty much ignored even though
they pointed out uh wetland development area that they're proposed to be putting that commercial area into. Drainage issues uh coming from Terteranova uh into that wetland area uh that's
permitted and part of our uh drainage pattern for our uh storm water usage. uh the difficulty with traffic coming in and out of the area at Villimar uh which is only accessible off of Eloise Loop
Road practically uh even though the entrance to Villimar off of County Road 653 U and Cuttingham Road would also access the property. It's a significant distance and already there's a great
deal of traffic that are using the entry and exit off of uh uh Eloise Loop Road and it's already causing some traffic problems at this point. Um the planning commission seemed to indicate that with the new Thompson Nursery Road uh
extension project that the traffic areas would be uh taken care of. But uh with our experience working with Pulk County Commission, uh it's going to be several years before the Thompson Nursery Road
Extension Project is being developed uh along the area that's serviced by Vilar and Terteranova and the other communities. the the citizen interest that that the folks spoke to me about. Um, again, they
they felt like it was much more the interest of the developer that was being taken care of rather than the interests of the citizens. And we believe pretty strongly that it's the responsibility of our city
commissioners and our other local uh government entities that the citizens are the first people who should be listened to and not corporations. I recently read an article uh that was comparing capitalism as as we know it to
a new term that's come up is corporatism. that large corporations with vast sums of money at their disposal get more interest and and more listening time uh than average citizens and that's that's
an area of concern. Um the the area where we all live is residential. There are several very significant communities all along Thompson Nursery Road, County Road 653 and beyond. There's already commercial
development that's going on with a new public store being built on Thompson Nursery Road. Uh a new 7-Eleven. Uh so two other uh commercial properties are going in uh right near the that 7-Eleven. So commercial development
along an artery like Thompson Nursery Road I guess is something that we see as as progress uh and when Thompson Nursery Road it becomes a four-lane thoroughfare. Uh that will not go directly past where the Villimar
entrance and exit is. That will still be going on to the Eloise Loop Road. Development is fine. We understand it. It's it's growth and it's the future. But when it takes place in your own backyard, it's a whole another matter.
So, we'd appreciate your consideration. >> If if you haven't finished, I'll give you a few more minutes. >> I beg your pardon? >> I'll give you a few more minutes. >> Oh, thank you very much. Um, one of the one of the residents u had re
recently moved here from Nebraska. Uh, very used to open territory. And one of the appeals that uh they had to the property that they bought on Turnanova Boulevard, which backs up directly to the Villar development, was that open
land space. And they understood fully well that it would be a matter of time before new homes were built on that property. And they didn't have an objection to new homes. uh but having a commercial enterprise of unknown what
it's going to be. That question was raised at the planning commission and whether the developer didn't know or didn't want to answer what was going to be built there. Uh the the folks felt that they were just being shortchanged,
if you will, uh not having any idea what's going to be built. And apparently they were told that the permitting that was being considered would allow up to a six-story structure to be built on on
that land. Uh backing up to single family homes all along that their area. I have to learn to stop talking with my hands. uh but uh not knowing uh it's really clouded their uh
I shouldn't say their decision that they've already made. They they've made tremendous changes to their home and really beautified it. Uh it it's disheartening if I can put it simply from what they said and the fact that they raised the question about traffic
and movement and development u just seem to fall on deaf ears again with Thompson Nursery Road extension project uh being a long-term down the road uh there would seem to be other areas that could be used for res
for commercial development rather than directly in the heart of a residential area. Um, obviously we have no control over how those residential areas are are built and as anyone you could speak with in the community, there's a great deal
of concern about how much development is taking place. And at one of the uh Winter Haven or pardon me, one of the Pulk County Commission meetings that we attended and spoke at, we raised the concern that uh County Executive Bill
Beasley had made the statement that uh Pulk County is changing. It's it's becoming urban. It's no longer suburban. Um, and a lot of folks have moved here uh from places like Nebraska and Michigan and Pennsylvania and all over
uh for what Winter Haven has to offer or perhaps had to offer. Pulk County in general uh being a very beautiful residential area. uh seeing it develop as fast as it is and the traffic and the
other infrastructure issues that develop with that growth are serious areas of concern and and serious things to consider. Um replacing residential with a commercial development again would seem to be something that could be put
into a better location than in the middle of a residential area. and president of our HOA is here and can address some other concerns that were raised at that meeting with firsthand knowledge. I'll uh thank you for your
time and and your attention to the a significant and real concern. So, thank you, Mayor >> Dan Kinski. Did I say it right? >> All right. Well, come in and straighten me out.
State your name and address for the record, please. >> My name is David Koseski. >> I live at 226 Teranova Boulevard, Winter Haven, Florida. >> I am the HOA president of Teranova. And I was here at the last meeting. And uh
do you all have the picture that's being shown to everybody? >> Yes. >> Okay, great. Um few concerns. Number one, as you look into the upper right hand corner, you see a lake and a pond. Then you see as you come down in the red
area, you'll notice that there's a a shaded area that's like a little bit lighter than the rest. It's like a almost a a rectangle. That area becomes a swamp when we have heavy rains or a hurricane.
So that's all overflow and that's about goes out from where the houses are now about approximately 100 yards and I can tell you there used to be cattle there and when the cattle were there when they walked they actually
slashed and it was up to the bottom of their stomachs. So you're looking at about two two and a half three feet of water. My concern when the planning committee was when I was talking to planning committee was what are they going to do
to take care of that because there's an area from winter from our Teranova area that actually overflows. It's an overflow from our from our streets and that and that overflows into that area. It's always been that way for the last
20 years. If they raise that land and do something with that, you close off that area, you're going to have flooding into all those homes. I can tell you that for sure that that water floods all the way from those pond
or that that lake there because we actually had alligators right next to my house at 226 Teranova. We had a two-foot, a three-foot, and a 4ft alligator. They all came from that pond. So, it is deep enough to do that. They actually were swimming right around the
cattle. It's kind of an interesting thing. But that's one concern. My second concern, as Ken brought up, is this isn't at an intersection. That's just a a you know, an intersection that comes
to a four fourlane situation. This now curves into the Villimar area before you ever get to that stop sign that they're hoping to plan to do in the next few years. When I talked to the planning committee and asked the uh developers of
Villar, they said, "Well, they would probably be doing something there in the next 6 months or a year." The planning committee says, "Oh, yeah, that'll all be ready." Now, I know and you know that that road is not going to be ready in the next six months or a year. that's not going to be happening till at least
2028, maybe 2029 or 2030. So now you're going to put in a commercial area that isn't ready for development with the roads. So how does that impact that? Because right now coming out of Villimar, they have one road that they
utilize that cars can get in and out, but they have a whole another section, the wider section that's blocked off because that's supposed to interconnect with Thompson Nursery. Well, until that's connected and interconnected with Thompson Nursery, you're going to have a
real cluster right there. if you put anything in at this point in time, let alone commercial because there's no way to get to it because you only have that one little area that they're coming in and out of right now. There's a little street, a
little going one each way, one car each way and it's a mess because there's no there's just a little stop sign there and they all are zipping along Thompson Nursery. So, it it it doesn't work at this moment. If you put this in three
years from now or four years from now when you have the roadway there and then you do that, maybe you can make it work. But at this point in time, it really makes no sense. Also, if you're going to do this and as a committee you're going to approve this, you really want to know
what's going to go on with all that water that's going to be there. How is that going to work? How is that going to impact the homes that are already there? because these are four and five and $600,000 homes. The people are not going to be very happy. I already have people
in Teranova that aren't happy with Villimar because of the dust that they're creating with the homes that they're building now. We've got most of these people have pools and they've got a half an inch and an inch of dust. I've been over to Villimar and asked them
about water trucks and they get water trucks out there for a week or two and then all of a sudden they're gone. So now you're going to do more over here and you're going to upset the people over here and you're going to end up having a lawsuit between Teranova and Villar.
>> All right, I'll give you a few more minutes. >> Sorry. Um, so in conclusion, I guess I'm not necessarily against what you're trying to do. I understand what you're trying to do, but at this point in time
to to say yes, go ahead with this, I think it's a mistake because there's no way that that infrastructure is ready for this. It's just not ready. And you need more answers of what's going on with that area before you make a
decision. You need to know what's going to happen with all that water that's going to be happening there. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to come forward? State your name and address for your for the record that
didn't actually sign up. >> Sure. Uh John Bannon with Wooden Associates Engineering. Uh 1925 uh Barto Road, Lakeland, Florida 3381. Uh thank you commissioners for your time tonight. Um I'm here on behalf of the applicant. Um, and just wanted to run through maybe
a couple um a couple points of the application and um maybe um address some of the concerns too that we've heard. Um I think when we when we started this process, we we we sat down with city staff and um and um you know, kind of
talked through some of the concerns about this area, talked through what was already um approved for this site, which was um which was residential. Um and then um kind of talked through the you know the need for additional commercial here in in this in this in this section
of town. We've um like it's mentioned in the staff report, Villimar alone is um almost 1,800 single family units. Um so really the goal here is to is to meet um parts of the city's comprehensive plan which encourages commercial use um
focused at um key intersections within the city and um although Thompson Nursery is not complete and although the intersection there at at um at Thompson Nursery and Eloise Loop is not complete um the goal here is to start the planning for that now um and um um
because that will be a um a key intersection there in the in the city. Um and there's really if you look at a map, there's really no other this is kind of the only opportunity to have commercial um at that intersection. Um
um you've got you've got storm water ponds kind of along the rest of Thompson Nursery. Um and you you've got the water treatment plant there um um across the street. So really this is the only opportunity to have commercial at kind of a key node um where you have a lot of
residential um in that part of the city and then more residential coming. So it's it's it's a way to meet that um that need for commercial. Um it's also um like it's mentioned in in the staff report um um provides an opportunity
there to shorten um existing uh trip lengths. essentially everybody in this part of town has to head up to Cypress Gardens Boulevard for commercial uses. Um so all that traffic um either is on uh Ruby Lake or or um Old Helena. So
really it's a way to capture those trips um uh shorten shorten shorten trip lengths um by by providing additional commercial there um at at a key intersection. um kind of uh to address
concerns that we've heard. Um yes, the use is not known at this time. Um it's we're still essentially in the in the in the planning phases. Um but um as far as drainage, this site was permitted for residential already um um with Swift Mud
and with the city. So, if you look at those plans, you'll see there's a significant amount of this site that that's that is going to be dedicated to storm water and to um a um flood plane too. So, um this site was permitted and
and and you look at the site, yeah, there are wetlands on site. Um so, there's a there's a um and and and there is flood planes. So, so those so those plans did include a significant amount of storm water retention. It's 100red-year area, so it's 100-year ponds, it's flood plane compensation for
any of those impacts. Um, and in in those areas that were talked about um um by the HOA president. So, um as far as as far as traffic, um any traffic uh and and and I agree what was
said with the configuration there is not is um is not the final configuration of of the roads. um it it would not support what um you know the commercial uses now. Um any any any traffic issues will have to be permitted
with Pulk County and those intersection improvements will have to be permitted with Pulk County. Um and um we also we also run those through with um with city staff as far as reviewing our traffic study and then whatever um improvements are needed if those are going to happen
before the county improvements are complete. So, um there'll have to be sort of a um a a regional traffic study done to look at look at the timing of the development um along with the timing of the improvements that are coming from
the county. So, um but those will be those will have to be um at the time of site permitting. Um let me see what else we had as far as some of the other concerns. Um yeah, as as as as far as drainage. Oh, sorry.
>> You can continue. >> Okay. Um uh but no, I'm I'm happy to take any questions. Happy to address any other concerns anybody h happens to have. Um or or just answer any questions about about the development, too.
>> All right. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Mayor, I got a question. >> Okay. >> Uh I had a question for you when you when you get back up if you don't mind. Um >> so you said there's nothing planned at this moment for that property. Correct. You there's nothing that you've got like
>> nothing specific. Um we've applied for neighborhood support um >> right >> zoning. So, um um it's we're we're still or they're still very in the in in the planning phases of the project. Yeah. There's nothing specific. >> Okay. So, Eric, my question to you then,
let's say a week, a month from now, they come forward and they've got a gate or another 7-Eleven or some big user that wants to come forward. This HOA president, I'm sorry, I forgot your name, but he made a very good point about the road and and you even admitted it's not really configured properly.
Would that have to be fixed before that gate or another 7-Eleven would be built or because I can see that he's got a point it could make things worse before it gets better. And is that part of the concurrency that we always talk about? Yes, sir. So, City of Winter Haven and
Pulk County both both engage in concurrency management. Um that is the management of infrastructure based on a level of service. Um we both do that for transportation uses. um if they came in you know in a month or two months or
whatever with a proposal um we would use it um which is Institute of Traffic Engineers um traffic generation um trip counts to determine how many trips that proposed use would put on the roadway um they would have to apply for a PK county
permit uh to gain access to Thompson Nursery Road because it is a Pulk County roadway they'd have to submit a traffic impact analysis um that would uh show or demonstrate if there is a deficiency and if there is
what the improvements would need to be made in order to accommodate that use. So we have the systems in place to ensure that we have um adequate infrastructure at the time of development. Um, you know, if they um,
just as a matter of practicality, I would suspect that the developer may wish to wait until Thompson Nursery Road is constructed by the county before moving forward with this project because if not, and his proposed use generates the need for a traffic light, the
developer will have to pay for it and put it in, >> which would save P County some money. >> Right. Right. That's what I was going to get to is it looks like it would it seems to me like you're going to wait till after things completed. And even then, if they were to come forward and and make this application, knowing what I've learned over the last 13 years, it
ain't going to happen quick. It's going to take a long time to get these studies done. And um I understand their concerns about what this could potentially do to the road, but I think a lot of that is going to take care of itself through the
permitting process and with time, I think. But that's what I'm grappling with, Eric. And I think you you you that you're talking about at least an 18month process before it can be built. >> Yeah, that would be moving at speed lightning speed. You have to go through
like two and a half years. >> Yeah, they're going to have to modify their swift mud permit that they previously got um for the residential component. So, they'd have to modify it after they figure out what they're building there and they have to go through all the permitting process um with Swift Mud and with us and with Pulk
County. So it it will take some time. Yes, sir. >> Eric, let me ask a quick question. So no matter what, will this come back before us at some point or would they this >> is there a way that they could navigate and build what they want to build
without us ever having to see this again under this zoning request? >> The only way it would come back before you is if they're proposing a use that's not allowed in the zoning district. Then they'd have to do a zoning modification of of some sort. Um if they're doing any uses um retail uh restaurant office that
are allowed in the commercial zoning district then it's a administrative approval at that point it's submitting of a site plan um making sure that they get their swift mud permit their Pulk County permit um they'd have to meet all the requirements in our land development
code. So, um, all of the landscape buffering, parking requirements, all of that, it's administrative at that point. >> And that's the challenge for me under our code and what we will allow like, and I don't know the specific, I assume that was right, that they could build a
sixstory building here. Is that right or >> um 65 ft is the the maximum height in the commercial zoning district. >> So, that that's what how many stories that >> generally five or six. >> Okay. So if you do flat flat, like and I totally get that like if I lived in any
of these houses, I wouldn't want a sixstory building right next to me. And I think if that became before us, we would absolutely I I don't I I know I would vote no on that. I I can't speak for the rest of the commission, but
that that's where this gets challenging. Can and we can't approve this necessarily and restrict that building. Correct. No, >> you've got to you got to take the the bath water and everything, >> right? I I would um I would point out as
as the engineer um stated and the uh HOA president, the the east side of the property um is the wet side um of the property. That is where all the storm water and retention will will go um for
the property. So there will be, you know, likely the commercial uses will be um pushed up uh closer to Thompson Nursery Road. There'll be a significant buffer between the the uses and the the residential on the east side. >> That's correct. >> So while you're standing up here, you're not going to build a six-story building
there, right? >> Um I mean, like Eric said, just the nature of the site, it's it sort of drains from west to east. So um if you look at the plans that were approved for Villimar 8, yeah, there's storm water there towards the east. Um so and then on top of storm water now there's going
to be the buffering that is required between commercial and residential which is pretty significant. So you have storm water and then the buffers and and and I'll just add as a as a matter of economics and our land development code. If they were to propose a six-story
building of any significant size on this property they'd likely have to go to structured parking. They wouldn't be able to park it. Um it it as a matter of economics just I I don't foresee any building even coming close to that size going on this property.
>> All right. Do you know other questions? Anyone else from the public would like to speak? State your name and address for the record. And I would like to just request that you don't repeat what has already been said. >> No, sir. >> Thank you.
>> My name is Linda Fe. I'm the vice president of the HOA at Traditions Winter Haven. My address is 3691 Plymouth Drive. I also sit on the regional community council with Ken Henry. Um just a couple of things to point out to you. Uh number one, when we
talk of traffic, those of you that sit on the county traffic commission, uh if we could hear a little bit more from those of you that sit on that, maybe we wouldn't have to address these issues down the line. Uh secondly, um the
intersection at Ruby Lake and Traditions or excuse me, Thompson Nursery Road, uh which has the Publix under construction is less than a mile from this site. There are 13 commercial developments going in there that certainly support
those people that are living in Teranov and along that buffer. So the idea as uh the engineer stated of the uh residents having to go you know great distances to access grocery stores. Uh my conversation with publiclix at this
point the additional eight stores that are connected to the Publix that towers up and above the fence line of our community. it uh has created an issue with flooding yesterday because the parking lot is 18 in higher than the
residential area. So when we talk about runoff from commercial development, this being a wet area, they're going to have to bring in fill to lift this up and to make it stable for construction. So you're going to have an additional height issue dealing with the runoff in
this area. And I think if you look back right now at what's going on at Thompson Nursery Road and Lake West Lake Ruby and you see the impact of the public's there, uh the construction workers that are in their pickup trucks literally are eye level looking over the fences into
our backyards. So once again, take another look. You have an opportunity, as you said, to table this. Uh let's wait for the Thompson Nursery Road. let's wait for Publix and those 13 uh commercial developments that are less than a mile away. Uh Publix has not uh
signed leases to fill those stores. So, if there's not a need and you're not filling uh opportunities on commercial stores less than a mile away, why would you build 15 more, you know, areas? And I think you're talking 40 acres here. That's a considerable amount of
construction. Um, and once again, the city of Winter Haven has no noise ordinance. We start at 4:00 in the morning on construction noise. And again, this backs up to our neighborhood. You're looking at construction and noise uh that comes from construction uh impacting the
Teranova people. So once again, thank you and I strongly suggest that you table this at this point. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? All right, seeing none, I will close the public hearing and reopen the city commission meeting. Is there any more
discussion? All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. >> I oppose this by the same sign. >> I motion passes. Ordinance 02537 would
read by title only. City attorney. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-25-37, an ordinance amending chapter 21 of the code of ordinances of the city of Haven, Florida by reszoning one parcel and a portion of another parcel from planning and development PUD zoning district to commercial-highway C3 zoning district
providing for the administrative correction of scrimeters errors repealing all ordinances in conflict with and providing an effective date. The general location, the subject property is generally located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Thompson Nursery Road and Cunningham Road and south of Thompson Nursery Road, approximately 330 feet east of
Cunningham Road. The area covered by this request is 46.21 plus or minus acres. Thank you. >> Thank you, s manager. This just deals with zoning. >> Yes, sir. Uh, ordinance 2537 is the zoning uh amendment that takes it from the PUB zoning to commercial highway C3
zoning district on the same parcel that you just discussed. Thank you, commissioners. >> Yes. >> I make a motion that we approve ordinance 02537 and on um second reading and public
hearing. >> Thank you. I will now close the commission meeting. If there's anyone that wish to speak to ordinance 0237, you may do so at this time by coming forward. State your name and address for the record. You have five minutes.
Seeing none, close the public hearing. Reopen the commission meeting. Is there any discussion? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. Opposes by the same sign. >> I 2537 is adopted. O239, would you read by
title only, city attorney? >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-25-39, an ordinance of the city of Winter Haven, Florida, relating to mandatory structural inspections for condominium and cooperative buildings implementing subsection 553.889 889 sub11 Florida
statutes 2025 creating section 5-24 of the code of ordinances of the city of Warhaven Florida requiring condominiums cooperative associations and owners subject to mandatory structural inspections to schedule commence repairs for substantial structural deterioration within 365 days after the city's receipt
of a phase 2 inspection report providing for conflicts. Providing for severability providing for codification and the administrative correction of scrimmers errors. providing for an effective date. Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager. >> Mayor and commissioners, in response to the condominium building collapse in Surfside, Florida, the Florida
legislature passed House Bill 913 during the 2025 legislative session. House Bill 913 requires local governments to add language to their code addressing structural repairs for condominium and cooperative association buildings within a specified time frame. To comply with
HB 913, section 5-24 will be added to chapter 5, buildings and building regulations of the Winter Haven Code of Ordinances, and will require those condominium and cooperative associations, which are required by law to perform milestone inspections to
schedule or commence repairs for substantial structural deterioration within 365 days of the building official receiving a phase 2 inspection report. There are seven condominium and cooperative associations located in the
city which are subject to milestone inspections. These are those containing buildings of three or more habitable stories in height which are required every 30 years of age and every 10 years thereafter. Staff recommends the city commission
approve ordinance 025-39 on second and final reading and authorize the city manager or designate to take all necessary actions related to the implementation of the same. Thank you. >> Thank you commissioners. >> Mr. Mayor, >> yes.
>> Motion to approve ordinance 0-25-39. >> Thank you. I will now close the commission meeting, open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to ordinance 02539 may do so at this time. >> Seeing none, close the public hearing,
reopen the commission meeting. Is there any discussion? >> I had a quick question. Um T, who are the five What are the five developments in Winter Haven that are subject to this? You said there was five. I think there's seven, I think, is what I read. Yes, sir. >> Do you know what they are right off hand or is that
>> the um Catholic Towers over by the skate park? the there one on the south side of um Spring Lake. Um South Lake Howard. >> South Lake Howard, I think. Um the east side of
17. That one's over three stories, so it'd be subject to it. >> One off first street there by uh >> 20 on 20 on second or something. >> Have to be three stories in their condo buildings or condo association. So
>> um We can we can provide that list to the commission. Right. >> I want to make sure we have it right for you. >> All right. Any other questions? All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I. Opposes by the same sign. Hearing none. 02539
is adopted. 02540 which you read by title only. City attorney. >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-25-40. An ordinance of the city of Winter Haven, Florida, recognizing a contribution from the estate of Velma Sewell Daniels in the amount of 258,79.7
to the Winter Haven Public Library, amending ordinance number- 229, adopting the city Winter Haven budget for the fiscal year 2025-2026, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager. Mayor and
commissioners, the city received a bequest in the amount of $258,879.7 from the estate of Belma Sewell Daniels. Uh reflects her lifelong commitment to the lit to literacy and the advancement of public library services in the community. To properly record this
contribution, the current fiscy year budget will be amended to reflect an increase in the library fund under other contributions revenue account and make the funds available for library related expenditures within that library fund.
Staff recommends city commission adopt ordinance 025-40 which amends the budget to recognize a contribution in the amount of $258,879.7 by increasing the libraries library funds other contributions revenue account offset by a corresponding
increase to the materials expenditure account. Thank you. >> Thank you commissioners. >> Mr. Mayor, make a motion to approve ordinance 02540. >> Thank you. I will close the commission meeting, open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to ordinance 0 2540 may
do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing, reopen the commission meeting. Any discussion, questions? All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. >> I oppose this by the same sign. Hearing
none. 0240 is adopted. 02541 which read by Tyler Lon, city attorney. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-25-41, an ordinance of the city of Win Haven, Florida, recognizing the roll forward of open purchase orders from fiscal year 2024-2025
to fiscal year 2025-2026 amending ordinance number 0-25-29 appropriation of funds for defraining the expenses of the municipal government of the city of Winter Haven for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2025, providing for severability and providing an effective date. Thank you.
>> Thank you, city manager. Mayor and commissioners, pursuant to Florida statute 166.241, the city commission may amend the budget by ordinance to appropriate and expend funds that were not anticipated in the originally approved budget. Purchase order roll forwards represent
contractual or encumbered obligations that were approved in fiscal year 2024 2025 but not fully expended by year end. The total value of the rolled forward purchase orders affects current year budget. However, this action does not constitute new spending. Rather, it
reflects the continuation of previously approved obligations. The total budget amendment of 58,118,80.31 reflects outstanding incumbrances as of September 30th, 2025. Staff recommends city commission approve
ordinance 025-41 on second and final reading authorizing a budget amendment to roll forward open purchase orders from fiscal year 2425 to fiscal year 2526. Thank you. >> Thank you commissioners.
>> Mr. Mayor motion to approve ordinance 02541 second reading and public hearing. >> Thank you. I will close the commission meeting. Open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to this ordinance may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing.
Reopen the commission meeting. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Opposes by the same sign. Hearing none. O241 is adopted of 02542.
Would you read by Talon, city attorney? >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-25-42, an ordinance amending ordinance number 0-24-44, appropriation of funds for defraying the expenses of the municipal government of the city of Winter Haven for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2024,
provided for severability and providing an effective date. Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager. >> Mayor and commissioners, pursuant to Florida statute 166.241, 241. The city may amend its budget within 60 days of the fiscal year end. As part of review
for fiscal year 2425, staff evaluated project expenditures to ensure adequate budget authorization existed within the fiscal year in which the costs were incurred. During this process, it was determined that several projects require budget adjustments to fully fund expenditures. All budget amendments
pertain to the prior fiscal year and are limited to the reallocation of existing resources within and between funds. No new or additional funding is required and there is no financial impact to the current fiscal year's operation. Staff recommends passage of ordinance 025-42
on second and final reading, which authorizes and approves the subject budget amendments to the prior fiscal year budget to ensure compliance with financial reporting requirements and to accurately reflect project expenditures completed within fiscal year 2425. Thank you.
>> Thank you, commissioners, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes. >> Motion to approve ordinance 2542 and second reading and public hearing. >> Thank you. I will close the commission meeting. Open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to this ordinance may do so at this time.
Seeing none, close the public hearing. Reopen the commission meeting. Any discussion, questions? All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. >> I. >> I. Opposes by the same sign hearing none. O242 is adopted. Commissioners,
you have the consent agenda. Mer. >> Yes. Motion to approve the consent agenda in its entirety. >> Thank you. I will now close the commission meeting and open the public hearing. And so Dan, you can now come forth. State your name and address for
the record since you want to speak to item 10. >> Hi, how are you doing this? I'm Dan Chesnik. I live at 861 Oleander Drive Southeast right here in Winter Haven. I won't take much time. Um, you see that there's a note there to extend the lease
for or the use agreement for the theater Winter Haven and the Ritz. The reason we're asking for that is because it allows me to check the right box on a grant request for the state. Um, because we are now um now we have that use agreement. It opens us up to apply for
facilities grants and we applied for one this summer. It got kicked back to us because the window was too short. They like a longterm um a long-term stay in the place you're going to be so they don't fund projects where you're ultimately rolling out of that building and that's their rule across the state.
So we were able to dodge that bullet this year with a letter of intent and saying we were going to bring it back to the full commission. The grant that we applied for was to replace all the remaining incandescent lighting units in the in all four of the stages. So the
main stage, the normal window small second stage, the ghost site lounge and the ritz and to replace all analog equipment with digital equipment. The mo the biggest benefit of that is that it would save approximately 87% in utility
bills at those locations. So um that would be fantastic. The total cost for those whole projects would be $273,598. For every dollar or for every $2 we spend, the state would spend $1. So, we were asking for 91,199
from the state. This has already been vetted by the state. Um, we scored a 93% on our grant request, which was the third highest in the state. So, if when they get to the budget in July, they actually fund these things, we have a pretty good shot of getting it. So, that
was the whole reason for this. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Close the public hearing. Reopen the commission meeting. Any discussion? All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. >> I. Opposes by the same sign. Hear none.
The consent agenda is adopted in its entirety. All right. Resolutions. Resolution R2552, which you read by title only, city attorney. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Resolution
R-25-52, a resolution vacating a portion of an improved public right ofway consisting of a 40 to 60 foot wide north south platted rightway lying west of lots 1458 91 12 13 and 16 and lying east of lots 2367 10 11 and 15 is shown in the Lake
Eloise subdivision as recorded in platbook 3 page 57 public records of Poke County Florida lying in section 4 ton of 29 south range 26 east Poke County Florida and lying west of the northern 230 ft of the park tract of the Valhalla subdivision as recorded in
platbook 67, page 34, public records of Poke County, Florida, lying in section 09, Tantra 29, South Range 26 East, Poke County, Florida, and east of track Q of the Harmony on Lake Eloise, phase 3A subdivision as recorded in platbook 208, pages 23 to 28. Public records of Poke
County, Florida, lying in section 4, Township of 29 South Range 26 East, Poke County, Florida, providing for the administrative correction of scrutinous errors, severability, and providing for an effective date. General location, the improved right of way located approximately 1,800 ft north of Eloise Loop Road, northwest of the entrance to
the Valhalla subdivision, and south of Shell Road. Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'm going to ask uh Deputy City Manager Carnival to present uh these next four items. Um just for convenience, item 11 A, 11 C,
and 11D share a common fact sheet. So would ask that we move 11B until we do those three just for convenience and for uh to minimize any confusion in the order. Uh and he will now present item 2552. >> All right. Thank you. >> Good evening, mayor and city
commissioners. As part of the development of the Harmony neighborhood, generally located south of Lake Lulu and west of Lake Eloise, the developer, Fourstar USA Real Estate Group Incorporated, envisioned a realignment of West Lake Eloise Drive to improve safety, increase the developable area of the roadway, and improve the overall
aesthetic. With the realignment of West Lake Eloise Drive now complete, Forsar is seeking to clean up old rideways and easements to facilitate the ongoing development of their project. Specifically, the three requests are vacation of Westlake Eloise Drive rightway. So, this is the old uh roadway
corridor. Fourstar requests the city vacate, abandon, renounce, and disclaim the public's right into and upon a 40 to 60 foot wide approximately 3,300 foot long section of improved rideway commonly known as West Lake Eloise Drive. Eloise Drive. The rideway was dedicated as part of the Lake Eloise
subdivision plat in 1914 and the developer seeks the vacation of the rideway to facilitate future development of the Harmony Lake Eloise subdivision phase 3B in phase 5. The recently completed new alignment shifts the road to the west and was platted as part of the Harmony on Lake Eloise phase 3A
subdivision plat. The new road alignment is currently open and operating as Westlake Eloise Drive. The old section of West Lake Eloise Drive has been blocked off and is currently not utilized by the public. To clean up the remnant section of rideaway located adjacent to the Valhalla subdivision, staff extended the vacation request to
include an additional 230 ft, which I think you can uh see in the picture there. Public or franchise utility infrastructure within the old rideway has been abandoned or relocated. City departments and franchise utility operators have no objection to the vacation provided. New easements will be granted if necessary.
>> So the next item is next we'll go with the next resolution in there is vacation of public utility easements. So on December 11, 2006, you want you want to take them one by one? >> No, we take them one by one because uh the city attorney has to read by title only. >> Okay.
>> All right. So, commissioners, you have ordinance. I mean, resolution R2552. I entertain a motion, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes. >> Motion to approve resolution R-25-52. >> Thank you. I will close the uh commission meeting, open the public
hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to resolution R2552 may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing, reopen the commission meeting. Is there any discussion? All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I.
I. >> I. Opposes by the same sign. Hearing none. Resolution R2552 is adopted. Resolution R25 54. Would you read by title only, city attorney? >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Resolution R-25-54,
a resolution terminating, abandoning, vacating, and releasing a 45 ft utility easement in favor of the city of Winter Haven, as recorded an official records book 7132, pages 521- 524. Public records of Poke County, Florida, providing for the administrative correction of scrier's errors, severability, and providing for an
effective date. General location, the utility easement located approximately 1,800 ft north of Eloise Loop Road, west of the Vajala subdivision, and south of Shell Road. Thank you. >> Thank you. Now, deputy city manager. >> So, again, this is in the the same general area in the same project. Uh,
vacation of public utility easements is this section. So, on December 11, 2006, the city was granted a 45 foot wide, 3,966t long north south perpetual easement to excavate, construct, and maintain underground water and sanitary sewer lines or underground works or utilities
of a municipal or public nature. The owner of these lands, FourStar Real Estate Group Incorporated, has arranged for the relocation and abandonment of all utilities within the easement and is requesting the city vacate and release the easement to allow for the construction and development of Harmony on Lake Eloise phase 3B and phase 5. As
part of the ement vacation process, the city has contacted the local utility companies as well as the city's engineering and utility departments. No objection letters were received. As part of the redevelopment of this land, any abandoned or inactive utilities located within the easement area will be removed at the developer's expense.
>> Thank you. Commissioners, entertain a motion for resolution R2554. >> Mr. Mayor, >> yes. >> Motion to approve resolution R-25-53. >> I4, sorry. >> All right. I'll close the commission meeting, open the public hearing. Anyone
wishing to speak to R2554 may do so at this time. Seeing none, close public hearing. We open the commission meeting. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. >> I. Opposes by the same sign. Hearing none. Resolution R2554
is adopted. Resolution R255. Would you read by title only? City attorney. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Resolution R-25-55. A resolution confirming the acceptance of improvements, infrastructure, and dedications in favor of the public/ city of Winter Haven. as noted down that
certain plat entitled harmony on Lake Eloise phase 3A recorded in the office of the clerk of the circuit court in Fort Poke County, Florida in platbook 208 pages 23-28 public records of Poke County, Florida and authorizing the city manager release the performance bond posted to guarantee completion of
required improvements in infrastructure. General location subdivision is generally located west of West Lake Eloise Drive north of Harmony and Lake Eloise phase 2 subdivision. Thank you. >> Thank you, Deputy City Manager. All right. So, this is the same area that we've talked about before, except we're looking at the newly constructed section
of roadway in that that area. So, acceptance of improvements dedicated by the Harmony phase a phase 3A plat for request the city commission accept certain improvements and dedications in favor of the public/ city of Winterhaven as notated on the plat for Harmony on Lake Eloise phase 3A. The subi
subdivision consists of 33.19 acres and is generally located west of Westlake Eloise Drive north of Harmony on Lake Eloise phase 2 subdivision. The subdivision contains no building lots and five common lots consisting of storm water retention and open space. However, the sub subdivision dedicates to the
city a 100 ft rightway containing the realignment of Westlake Eloise Drive. All drainage conveyances and storm water management areas will be maintained by the CDD. On August 6th, 2024, city commission approved resolution R2435 platting harmony on Lake Eloise phase
3A. However, certain improvements were not completed at that time. In accordance with state statute 21395 or of the city I'm sorry of the city statute 21395 of the city of Winter Haven unified land development code the developer Fourstar Real Estate Incorporated submitted a performance bond issued by the Atlantic Specialty
Insurance Company in the amount of 3,38922 to guarantee completion of all required infrastructure and improvements for the subdivision. Incomplete work included earthwork, sanitary sewer, portable water, reuse water, landscaping, storm water management, paving, final roadway construction, and engineering
certification. Recent inspections by staff found all incomplete improvements are now complete, and the roadway, water, wastewater, and reuse utilities can now be accepted by the city of Winter Haven. Staff's recommending approval. >> Thank you, commissioners. >> Mr. Mayor, >> yes.
>> Motion to approve R255. >> Thank you. I will close the commission meeting, open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to R255 may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing, reopen the commission meeting. Is there any
discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. Oppose this by the same sign. Hearing none. R255 is adopted. R2553, would you read by title only? City attorney. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Resolution R-25-33,
a resolution of the city commission of the city of Winter Haven, Florida, naming an unnamed north south running roadway located between Old Lucern Park Road and Grepen Pass as Grepen Pass, making findings, providing for severability, providing for the repeal of conflicting resolutions, and
providing an effective date. Thank you. >> Thank you, Deputy City Manager. You going to take this one as well? >> Yes, sir. Thank you. Right. R2553 to serve the Lucern Lake Lucern 2 subdivision. An existing 50-foot unnamed unimproved rideway extending from old
Lucern Park Road was improved to city standards for public use. As this platted rideway was already in existence when Lake Lousern 2 was platted in October of 2022, it was not included in the subdivision plat and therefore not officially named. The unnamed roadway connects to Grippen Pass, which is a short ride ofway stub out platted as
part of the Lake Lucern phase 6 subdivision. P County E911 addressing recently contacted the city regarding the need to formally name the unnamed roadway to improve emergency response. As this roadway connects to the existing Grein Pass, it was determined this is the best name to assign it as it is represents an extension of the existing
Grein Pass. Additionally, there are nine houses accessing this roadway. Each was previously assigned a Grep and Pass address. Should resolution R2553 be approved by the city commission, the P County E911 addressing office will notify affected emergency response agencies and other government agencies. The addressing office will also
coordinate the posting of appropriate roadway signs within the with the city's streets and drainage division once approved. There will be a small financial impact to cover the cost of adding proper street name signage at the intersection of Old Lousern Park Road, which will be accounted for in funding from the streets budget for sign materials. Staff
recommends the city commission approve R2553 and authorize a city manager or his designated take all necessary actions related there too. >> Thank you, commissioners. >> Mr. Mayor, >> yes. Motion to approve Rh 2553.
>> Thank you. I will close the commission meeting. Anyone wishing to speak to R2553 may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing. Reopen the commission meeting. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I oppose this by
the same sign. Hearing none. Resolution R2553 is adopted. R 25 56. Do we need to read by title? >> Yes, sir. >> Go ahead. City attorney.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Resolution R-25-56. A resolution of the city commission of the city of Winterhaven, Florida, supporting approving and authorizing the Winter Haven Tennis Center naming as recommended by the city of Winter Haven city commission and city administration and directing the city manager to take all necessary actions in order to
accomplish same. making findings, providing severability, repeal of conflicting resolutions, and the administrative correction of scrimmers errors, and providing for an effective date. Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager. >> Mayor, commissioners, the city does not have a formal policy or procedure for naming facilities in recognition of
individuals who've made significant contributions to Winter Haven through their service and impact. The most recent facility in naming considered and approved by the city commission was the Ruben Williams sports complex, the James School boy Tugerson baseball fields at Ruben Williams Sports Complex and the
Otis Birdong Gymnasium at the new Winterhaven Recreation and Cultural Center. These were approved via resolution on January 8th, 2024. In 2017, the city began construction of a new state-of-the-art tennis and pickle ball facility located on Third Street Northwest. This involved raising the
entirety of the former tennis center. The new Winter Haven Tennis Center officially opened in May of 2018. Having been elected to the city commission during a special election held April 2nd, 2013, and having been reelected unopposed in 2013, 2017, and
2023, Commissioner Bradley T. Dancler is the third longest tenur commissioner in Winter Haven's history, having served 12 years and 8 months, and has served in the role of mayor for eight years, which is longer than any other mayor in Winter Haven's history. On August 25th, 2025,
Commissioner Dansler announced that he would not seek reelection. Thus, he will officially leave office January 12th, 2026. Throughout his service as mayor and city commissioner, Commissioner Dancler has been a strong supporter of improvements associated with city's parks and recreation facilities. He was
a driving catalyst and advocate in securing funding for the Winter Haven Tennis Center and directly involved as a city commission liaison during its design and construction. Resolution R2556 officially renames the current Winterhaven Tennis Center as the Bradley
T. Dancler Tennis Center in recognition of his service to the citizens of Winter Haven as a city commissioner and unwavering advocate for recreational facilities, programs, and opportunities. There will be a minimum cost associated with changing the name on the entryway sign of the facility, which will be
absorbed within the parks, recreation, and culture fiscal year 26 budget. staff recommends the city commission approve resolution R2556 and authorize the city manager designate to take necessary actions related there too. Thank you.
>> Thank you commissioners. Mr. >> Mayor, I make a motion that we approve uh R 2556 renaming of the Winter Haven. >> Thank you. I will close commission meeting open public hearing. Anyone
wishing to speak to R2556 may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing, reopen the commission meeting. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. Opposes by the same sign. Hearing
none. We have uh a new name for our tit. All right. Resolution R2557 which read by Titan only city attorney. >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Resolution R-25-57 a resolution of the city commission of the city of Raven Florida reappointing
members to the affordable housing advisory committee and providing for severability repeal of conflicting resolutions for the administrative correction of scrier errors and providing for an effective date. Thank you. Thank you, city manager, >> Mayor and Commissioner. Section 3-303
of the Winter Haven Affordable Housing Advisory Committee bylaws states members shall be appointed for two-year terms. Terms shall began begin January 1st and end on December 31st. There are no limits on the number of subsequent terms that may be served. The following
members terms will expire on December 31st, 2025. Mark Ferrer, Carlos Unueda, Lisa Watkins, Brad Bey, Hattie Wilson, Ed Smith, and Abdul Raheem Alcatib. All seven members have expressed their
desire to be reappointed to the A Ahack and have submitted the appropriate reappointment forms to the city clerk. If reappointed, the above mentioned members terms will commence January 1st, 2026 and will expire December 31st of 2027.
There's no financial impact for this item. However, failure to appoint and maintain an active affordable housing advisory committee may delay or eliminate future funding of the SHIP program. Staff recommends city commission approve resolution R-25-57
reappointing members to take the affordable reing reappointing members to the affordable housing advisory committee and authorize city manager or designate to take all necessary actions related there too. Thank you. Thank you, commissioners. >> Mr. Mayor,
>> yes. >> I make a motion to approve resolution R2557, reappointments. >> Thank you. I will close the commission meeting, open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to resolution R2557
may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing, reopen the commission meeting. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I oppose this by the same sign. Hearing none,
resolution R2557 is adopted. Resolution R I said 57. R2557. R2558. Would you read by title only city attorney? >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Resolution R-25-58, a resolution of the city commission of the city where we're neighbor, Florida,
relating to public private partnerships making certain findings regarding an unsolicited proposal received October 13th, 2025 from 610 LLC for the construction of a new city parking garage to be generally located northeast of the intersection of Third Street Southwestern Avenue C Southwest.
determining the proposal from 610 LLC to be in the public's interest and authorizing the city to proceed with the unsolicited proposal pursuant to section 255063 par 3 parent C Florida statutes 2025 establishing a date for the commencement
of activities relating to the new city parking garage project authorizing the city manager and city attorney to negotiate a comprehensive agreement for construction purchase and sale approving a public interest determination report and instructing the city manager to publish said report in the Florida Administrative Register as required by
law, repealing conflicting resolutions if any, providing for severability, providing for the administrative correction of scriveners errors, providing for an effective date. Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager. Mayor and commissioners, on October 13 of 2025, the city received an unsolicited
proposal from 610 LLC, noted as the unsolicited proposer, for the construction of a 292 space parking structure at the northeast corner of Third Street Southwest and Avenue C Southwest in downtown Winterhaven. Section 255.065 065 of Florida statutes,
also known as the P3 statute, governs public private partnerships and the process by which unsolicited proposals are are received as a means by which public entities can deliver projects that serve a public benefit in a more timeefficient and cost-effective manner.
The construction and conveyance of a parking structure is a qualifying project as defined by the P3 statute. Concurrent with the submitt, the applicant provided a $25,000 application fee as provided for in the P3 statute to
cover the city's costs associated with review of the proposal and subsequent construction plans, as well as associated construction inspection services and other related costs. The unsolicited proposal details the proposer's intent to design, construct,
and deliver a four-story parking structure proposed to be constructed on property currently owned by Urban Action LLC, of which the unsolicited proposer is a 50% owner. The unsolicited proposer will demonstrate control of that real
property by entering into a development agreement with Urban Action LLC as required by the P3 statute. The city commission conducted the first duly noticed public meeting on November 24th, 2025 and provided opportunity for all
affected public entities and members of the public to provide comments on the unsolicited proposal for the city commission's consideration. In accordance with the P3 statute, at this evening's second duly noticed public meeting, the city commission is afforded the opportunity to make certain
findings in order to determine that the unsolicited proposal is in the public's interest. As such, resolution R25-58 has been prepared for consideration and addresses the following. One, the benefits to the public. Two, the
financial structure and the economic efficiencies achieved by the unsolicited proposal. Three, the qualifications and experience of the unsolicited proposer that submitted the proposal and such entities ability to perform the project. Four, the project's compatibility with
regional infrastructural plans. and five, any public comments submitted at the first meeting. In that regard, the city commission must provide a statement that explains why the unsolicited proposal should proceed and address such comments, if any. Resolution 2558
constitutes a report that includes the public interest determination in these factors and the factors considered in making such public interest determination. If approved, the report must be published in the Florida Administrative Register for at least
seven days. The resolution also authorizes the city manager to then negotiate a comprehensive agreement with the unsolicited proposer that would detail the respective party's rights and responsibilities to deliver the completed parking structure to the city
for use by the general public. And such a comprehensive agreement will be presented to the city commission at a third duly noticed public meeting for consideration and approval. There's no direct financial impact with this evening's request. However, should
the commission accept the unsolicited proposal and enter into a comprehensive agreement with the proposer at that third duly noticed public meeting, the total anticipated cost for delivery of the 292 space parking structure is
10,217,496. Staff recommends the city commission approve resolution 2558, direct staff to publish same to the Florida administr administrative register and authorize the city manager and city attorney to negotiate a comprehensive agreement for future
consideration by the city commission. Mayor and Commissioners, it's my understanding that uh representatives of the unsolicited proposer are here this evening uh and are available to answer questions and provide further information as may be requested by the commission. >> And M and Mr. Mayor, Commissioner, just
for the record, the staff report notates that the attachments and as included as part of your agenda tonight is the actual resolution which has three exhibits as well as the report of public comments that were received at the November 24th, 2025 meeting that the city manager alluded to along with
responses as well as the downtown strategic parking and mobility master plan that was conducted in 2022. Thank you. >> Thank you, commissioners. Commissioners, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes.
>> Um, I make a motion for approval of R2558. >> Thank you. I will close the commission meeting and open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to resolution R 2558,
come forth. State your name and address for the record. >> Good evening. My name is Jesse Scubna, 1003rd Street Southwest Winter Haven. Um, as you know, I've had quite a bit of correspondence. I added you all to the
um email thread that I had going on. I have several questions and concerns um during this process on Saturday. My biggest concern is, ironically enough, I've spent the last 15 years probably standing in the same
spot pleading with you to stop eliminating prime parking spaces. I have just not too long ago, I was pleading with you not to sell the parking lot directly across the street from our businesses, our three
businesses. And in that time, I kept referencing the 2015 parking study. And in that, it suggests that the city look into the policies of new infill development and
changing those policies because currently the policies don't require the developer to add any parking. So, I was told that that 2015 plan was never adopted. So, I guess it I I guess
it didn't really we couldn't refer to it. So, here we are again. And the parking study that was done in 2022 also recommended looking at the policies. Yet, I have asked over and over again if
we could on the CRA if we could look into these policies, but yet that goes kind of ignored. And then here we keep finding ourselves in a position where the same people that are creating the problem now have a $10 million solution
for us. That's where I'm having a little problem. The biggest problem I have is the evaluation of the $2 million. Like where is that coming from? Okay. Okay, if you're not going to answer me here, the answer in my email was that it's coming from
the pulk appraiser office. And this is exactly what you guys have in your information of how you are selling this to the taxpayer. You're selling it to the taxpayer as there is a $3.3 million evaluation. And I here I
brought it for everyone. But unfortunately, that evaluation is a little skewed because you're leaving out the almost 2.7 value of the building on this lot. The lot that you're referring to with the $3.3 million evaluation is
over 2 and a half acres. Now, when I asked how much land the city would be buying, they weren't sure, but what they did say was it was probably around 63 acres. So, if you commissioners are willing to
purchase a a piece of undeveloped land, 63 acres for $2 million, how is that responsible way to spend the taxpayers's money? Because I don't know any piece of property that is selling for that. I have a piece of property on
27, three and a half acres that barely will sell for that probably. So anyways, on this same piece of paper that you guys are using to come up with the evaluation, the land value is $426,000
and that's for the entire 2 acres of land, not the 63 that you'll be purchasing. So that is where I'm having a hard time. These this is our tax money. This isn't this isn't monopoly money. This isn't fund money. This is coming, as you said, it's coming out of
our transportation fund. I know that there's plenty of other ways to spend that transportation fund. It's coming out a construction fund and it's coming out out of a parking fund. Regardless, it is tax money and and it is your responsibility to to spend it
responsibly. And it's not even the need isn't even there. Somebody Saturday sent me this photo. They sent me this photo. It is our current parking garage on Saturday during Carol's on the Park and another event that was going on at the
same time. This is while a busy event is going on. There are 252 open spaces in the current garage. So tell me where the need is. I mean this is I'm not making this stuff up. It's not coming from my emotions. It's not my personal opinion.
I'm only using the information that you provided me and that others are providing. I I want to also refer to the parking study since you continue to um refer to the parking study that by the
way you you talk about the five um the five uh lots that were picked out for consideration for parking. Well, that was that was picked out by the stakeholders. And if you don't mind, I would like to
continue a few more minutes. >> Thank you. Well, the stakeholders that identified the lot are the same developers that are the unsolicited proposal. I was a part of that parking plan. I was on a committee that voted on
this, which by the way, I voted no on it because there wasn't any in real information in that study to go off of. There was no supply and demand. So, how are you coming up with this? It seems like from the very beginning that
parking study was only to further the developers development. It's not for actually fixing the the parking problem because I can understand that these businesses like Lucille's need parking. Sure, that is a great area for parking
and yes, it is privately owned, but it's privately owned by the same their tenants are using it. The developers tenants are using that. It's not like the general public is just using it. It's their own tenants. So, if they're willing to take the parking away from
their own tenants, then why is that the taxpayers's burden? That's their burden. Here, not too long ago, since I asked at the first meeting how much the city was going to be willing to sell that lot for $188,000. You were willing to sell a very busy
parking lot for $188,000. There's 21 spaces in that lot. You're going to buy a lot that has 51 spaces in it in in not not a prime location like this lot. You're going to buy that for $2 million.
It just doesn't make sense. Not fiscal sense anyways. And then I want to read one thing. Oh, and by the way, too, while we're talking about new apartments being built, I think that we might want to look at the empty parking lot in the breeze. This
picture here, it shows just a few spaces. You can go by there any time of the day and I will be surprised if you see more than seven cars in that parking lot. So, if you're going to talk about the development in the area and the need for the parking, maybe go look at how empty these developments are before we
keep approving more developments. Anyways, I in that parking study, if we're going to refer to it, let's look at it. I I believe it was page three. I don't have it on me, but in it somewhere it says it does not recommend to spend so much
money on one one parking garage. So $10 million is a lot of money. So I I don't understand why everyone's pretending like it's not a big expense for the city. So, as we do need parking, I think it would be a little more responsible for
you to take take some time, see where the parking would be better suited, ask yourself why people don't want to use the garage and maybe find and you know what, maybe maybe work with the developer and buy their land and build a surface lot. I mean, nobody's saying not
to work with them or to buy the lot from them, but give the people surface parking what they what they want. They want accessible, convenient, open parking. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Is there anyone else?
>> Come forward. State your name and address for the record. >> Sergio Cruz, 5237 Street Northeast Warner Heaven. I wanted to ask you, is there a chance you could put a map image on the screen
if you focus on the parking? Okay. Yeah. Right next to the chamber and just display the uh the new >> next to the uh chamber commerce. >> No. Okay. Could you show that? I'd like
to show that to the public. It's just an idea uh to save the city and taxpayers over $2 million on the land. >> All right, sir. you need to. >> So, if we look at the big picture right
next to the chamber and we close the street right where the new park begins and the front entrance facing the library, if we close that, according to my measurements for all the parking lots
that I study, we can build 75 to 82 uh parking spaces per floor. And if we add four er floors, that's over 300 spaces. And we have the land right there belongs to the public, belongs to the city. And
I think for better logistics, uh nothing could be better centralizing everything around the chamber, city hall, and the public library. So my opinion is that this investment should be reconsidered. Logistically speaking, we do have a
problem with parking. Yes, we do. Do we need more parking? Yes, we do. But all I ask is to be more considerate and more efficient with the hard earning money from the taxpayers. And if we built right above that land that belongs to the public, uh we end up having more
spaces and I think the location is just better. That's just my idea. >> All right. Thank you for your opinion. >> Anyone else? Good evening. Robbie Loftess, uh, 10 Lake Link Drive, Winter Haven. Um, I would just like to say, uh, that the
parking I feel like should be spread out a little bit more, not just centralized to that one location. Um, and it just seems like the same people get the same love. over the years, you know, there was a there was a time when when when
projects come up and RFPs and whatnot go out from the city and it's like you see all the same this this is the same people getting the projects. I'm like, man, maybe we should make some of those plans, those projects. So, what did we do? You know, we have a a real dump over there on Lake Howard and we made these
fancy plans. I was like, man, we got to make these plans and that's how we get the city's help in these plans. So, we make these plans um three different variations of them. Met with Eric here at this with the city many different times. You know how long ago that was? Four years ago. Still waiting. Still
waiting. But the same people get the same consideration. It's probably time that you guys start thinking a little bit better and your decisions with our tax dollars. Um but thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Hello, my name is Grant Piche, 403
Avenue B, Northeast Winter Haven. I look at this project and I think about uh all the wonderful things that uh these investors have done to our downtown area since I live about four blocks from there. Uh I can appreciate it. Although the the added traffic is kind of a pain,
but these same investors also feel that I look at their decision- making and they're telling me we need another coffee shop downtown. Does that make sense? It doesn't make sense to do something when the trend that I've seen is that people are
getting away from the cars. They they've got bikes, they've got uh golf carts, they've got uh somebody could be a little more creative and find a way to get those folks into that garage and move them three blocks down. Three blocks. I mean, what what are we trying
to provide here? Are we an athletic community or we just got to put so convenient for everybody? Doesn't make sense for me. And especially I live on Avenue B from Fourth Street to Second Street. It's pitch dark when I walk my
dog downtown every morning. Pitch dark. There's no lamp. There's nothing out there. Been there for 25 years. Same old thing. And a project like this is why I voted for Commissioner Donaldson. We, you know, it just seems that we need to make sure we have another voice in there
to make sure that we do the right things for the right reasons. This doesn't seem like one. Thank you very much. >> All right. State your name and address for the record, please. A little bit taller than that. All right. My name is Matthew Crowley. I
live at 9071 Thomasville Drive, Warner Haven, Florida. Good evening, mayor, commissioners, and staff. I'm here tonight as a resident who cares deeply about the decisions that this chamber makes that affect the long-term future of our community. and speaking on this
new parking garage project and even more importantly the pattern of ownership and influence around 610 and its outsized role in downtown development. Let me be clear about things. I'm not disagreeing with growth for growth's sake. It's
about who controls the growth and who benefits from that growth and whether the public has a genuinely independent voice that is shaping the future of our own city. For now or for years, residents has seen that recurring dynamic. 610 proposes,
the city advances, 610 expands, public resources magically follow, and time after time, decisions that should balance the needs of all neighborhoods appear to align most closely with the properties of one private entity.
This parking garage is a perfect example. This is going to be using public dollars. Yet the clearest and most immediate benefits concentrate around properties owned or controlled by 610.
The residents see that. That's apparent. They know who owns parcels downtown. They know who gains value from that additional foot traffic, additional parking capacity, and increased investment in downtown.
But people are asking very bluntly, is the city planning for public good or are we planning around 610 portfolio. These questions really do deserve a transparent answer. You know, I'm from
Winter Haven. I remember when you could drive downtown and never see another person. I remember that. I do. And growth in downtown is good for the city,
but that growth shouldn't come at the cost of basic monopolization is really what it is. Who who is the main owner of the majority of the prime real estate of downtown?
Who is it? We know who it is, but these aren't accusations. These are just accountability questions. We need a downtown shaped with the community in mind, not around a
corporation or an LLC. So, tonight I ask this commission to commit to three things. a full disclosure of all communications and meetings with 610 related to the parking garage and surrounding projects, a conflict of interest and undue influence
uh review for downtown development practices, and a citywide planning framework that prioritizes equity, not ownership concentration. I believe in the version of Winter Haven where we plant seeds that we may never see the shade of but will benefit the
next generation of families who call the city home like I am with my daughter. I urge you to show the public clearly and decisively that our city's future is shaped by the people for the people and
accountable to the people. Thank you. >> Anyone else? State your name and address for the record. >> Michael Hill, 3206 East Lake Cartridge Drive. Thank you very much for what you guys are doing. I'm probably the guy
tonight. Uh I am an investor in 610 and Silver Properties. And I get a lot of people talking to me about the reason we're building this parking garage is because of 610 their apartments. What I can tell you is 610 is a very small
owner in those particular projects. For me, I also said last meeting, I'm a person that loves Winter Haven. I've grown up in Winter Haven. I support all these businesses back here in Winter Haven more than probably most people in
this town. What I do know is I'm not going to go to Lucille's at lunch, which I do at least once a week. And nine out of 10 times when I go to Lucilles, guess where I park? I park in their parking lot, walk across their grass, go to
Lucilles. If I go to the barrel, if I go to Grove Roots, that's where I park. If we don't have that, I feel really bad for these businesses. Okay? And what I will tell you about the other parking garage, look around how much surface
parking is there. You've got the Wells Fargo building. You've got the Winter Haven Library. You got parking on both sides of the streets. It's good for them. So, that's why that parking garage isn't being used. But, am I going to walk in the middle of summer when it's
raining from that parking garage all the way down to these other locations? I'm not. So, I'm the advocate for these people that have taken a risk to come to Winter Haven, open their businesses, and tried to make a profit. So, in order to get Winter Haven growth, I get it. Some
of you don't like it. I think we need it to make all these other things work. So, thank you very much. I appreciate the commission and Mr. Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Bud Strang, 1733 East Lake Cannon Drive. Um, president and CEO of 610. Just a
couple of points I'd like to make. I I think addressed them briefly at the last meeting, but $10 million it it's a lot of money. I absolutely agree. And but this is a this is a tough thing for the city because in this parking garage in
particular, you've got to go and project where the city is going to be five 10 years from now. This is economic development. And the the analogy I used last time, Lakeland has four parking garages in downtown. They're working on
their fifth one. We have one. And if we think that all we are ever going to need in downtown Winter Haven is one parking garage, then then I would say we have failed. We have a much greater opportunity than that. But it requires
investing out ahead of the growth and doing it in the right way. we we the parking garage certainly benefits us, but we also we have a lot of surface parking as well that over time will probably go away. So, like I said, I I I I understand it's a difficult decision,
but it's a really important one if we're going to become the the city that that I think we all believe we can be. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? I thought Oh, okay. Come forward. State your name and address for the record.
How are you? Paul Nunees. I live at 106 Lake Howard Drive in Winter Haven. I also own Lucille's American Cafe downtown. I actually agree with a lot of what Jesse said. I think that she did a lot of homework. She's very concerned about how the city spends her money. And I think that we should always be
concerned. Uh, I've heard a lot of people um talk about how they feel like certain jobs or things aren't bid out properly to the city and maybe favor favoritism occurs. And I know that there's a lot of people that think, um,
you know, 610 benefits from that. Um, I can't really speak to that. I don't really know. Uh, what I can speak to is my personal experience in coming to Winter Haven. Uh, we've only been here for about four years. Uh from what I've seen from the photos in the past and looking at the growth and doing the
homework I did before I brought my restaurant to this uh city. Um I really believed in the city. I also really believe it or not almost more so believed in 610 and the development of what they were doing for the city. Um no offense to the people in this room that may take it the wrong way, but I think
610 has done more for downtown Winter Haven than the actual city of Winter Haven. Um they've taken a lot of buildings. They bought it for pennies on the dollar. Uh huge amount of investment. uh it's taken well over a decade uh for them to develop. The amount of risk that you take when you do
things like that as a business is um is huge. So now we fast forward to today 610 owns uh some valuable property that we probably need for parking. And being in the way the zoning is, I think that,
you know, it's um it's it's responsible the responsibility of the city to provide parking to sustain the growth in the downtown Winterh Haven. Uh I also am really watching what's left in downtown Winter Haven as far as available property for
purchase and available property for development. And I think we all know that it's not much left. And if we don't make uh a real hard effort to get parking now, it is not going to be there in the future when you need it. Um it's not just about parking for 610 um
tenants. I don't think I'm I'm biased. They are my landlord. Um they've been very good to me. Uh it it definitely would affect me. Um but you know, when you look at developments of other cities, uh parking garages are always the way they end up going because it's the only way you can get enough parking
in a dense area. Uh Lakeland I think has like three or four parking garages. Um and you look at the growth that's occurred at that downtown. Uh parking is is part of it. When I go to Lakeland, I never look to park in the garage. I look for street parking. I make a couple of laps around and if I can't find it, I
end up in the garage. I think this can be the exact same thing that happens in Winter Haven. People come, they look for surface parking. If it's available, great. They're looking, they grab it. If it's not available, they end up in the garage. Um, as was stated where the current parking garage is, there is a lot of surface parking around it that's
available. Uh, the library, whatever the other lot is at nighttime, that that parking is not needed. Um, I did come to uh the um Christmas uh event um this past Saturday, I think it was. And um I
can't speak to seeing 200 something spaces. Uh but I did actually drive in there and look around and that parking lot was actually pretty full on Saturday. And what I noticed was there was no surface parking readily available and people started going into the garage. Uh when we look at the other side of downtown, there's a lot less
parking and the majority of the parking that is there is where the garage is going. So we're talking about taking, you know, maybe 50 spaces where uh that's there now and increasing it to, you know, hundreds of spaces in the same uh footprint, which is where the garage
is going. So I think that it's needed. I think that um I know some people feel like the city's moving too fast. I think they feel that the city moves too fast with 610, but I um as a as as a resident and as somebody who has a business downtown, I don't think the city is
really moving fast enough on the parking issue because if you just wait until it's all developed and then go, well, hey, we're fully developed, there's no parking, it's going to be too late. I mean, we all know that there's not going to be anywhere to put it. Um, you know, I do think that, um, the area that, uh,
Andy Thornell has behind their, uh, their business, I actually think they own the street behind the business. I think they somehow got that or bought that from the city. Uh, but that area, I think, would be an area that, uh, would also need some uh, increased surface parking. So, I don't think the garage
answers all the questions, but it definitely helps uh, that side of downtown. Um, I could definitely understand the people in the center of downtown having lost the parking there and uh, as Jesse was saying, that parking lot across the street from her. I'm not sure what's happening there, but
um, the area that people really do like parking is in that downtown grass area and that is kind of on the Thornhole area and I think that the city should look at that for additional surface parking in addition to the um, garage that we're talking about. Thank you for your time.
>> You can continue. Are you finished? Oh, okay. I'll give you some more time. >> Five minutes. I got to go. But anyway, uh thank you for your time. I support the garage. I think it's really needed on that side of downtown. And like I said, I think people will use it. >> All right.
Is there anyone else? >> How we doing this evening? Miguel Barcelo, 3024th Street Southwest, Winter Haven. Uh I was here Wednesday and uh for I apologize. I didn't mean to offend anybody on the council. I wasn't sure how it worked. So, I just wanted to
address that first. But, um, uh, two weeks ago when we were here Monday, and I want to be clear about my intent. My intent is to be helpful. Um, I don't think there's any value in gotcha moments or anything like that, but uh, two weeks ago uh, Miss Scubna had brought up that um, there was an issue
with the ordinance uh, and that the there had been a revision given uh, that allowed the city to lease or rent more than 10% of the parking spaces and she was assured that that was not the case. Uh but however that is the case and uh I
don't want to waste anybody's time but I do want to read this is what I tried to present on Wednesday. um it wasn't the right forum for that but so I'll do it today just so that we get to a spot and I you know there will be purpose of this at the end but um here in writing we have that the city amended uh in 18 tac
53 section B the city manager or his her designate is hereby authorized to lease individual parking spaces at his or her discretion and city-owned parking facilities on a year-to-year basis provided that no more than 10% of any all day parking facility shall be leased
and that such leases shall not exceed one year in length. The provision is amended to say provided however that this restriction shall not apply to any structural parking facilities aka specifically parking garages owned and or operated by the city or any agent of
the city. The city manager or his her designate may lease some or all spaces in any structural parking facilities aka parking garages specifically owned and or operated by the city or any agent of the city and it goes on from there. So
my question here would be that since we now know for a fact this body did indeed amend the ordinance to say that specifically for parking garages more than 10% up to 100% of those spaces can be leased or rented. uh I don't think that it's in the best interest of the
public if we're using public funds to purchase this space and uh build it that we then you know put ourselves in a situation where some many all of those spaces end up being rented to private businesses or entities that end up becoming revenue
generating vehicles for the city. So to my question, uh are we going to get to a spot where we remend this so that specifically this parking garage uh will not have more than 29 spaces,
292 spaces, 10% being being 29 spaces uh leased or rented to private entities. Um and that we will indeed have 90% of those spaces available uh to the public without cost. All right, we'll get to you.
You have anything else? >> Is that a yes, we're going to make sure that doesn't happen or we're going to review it at least or what are what are we I'm I'm asking specifically what we plan to do with that. >> Well, we in our last meeting the this commission has it said that no more than
10% would be leased, >> right? But but also it was brought up that we have you know if we don't have that in writing then >> well let me just say this what we're doing tonight what we're doing tonight is getting the
input from you all and I don't know whether the resolution will pass or not but if it passes then we will negotiate a position and it will be brought back to the city commission.
>> Okay sir. Thank you. I just wanted to bring it to your attention that there was you know that >> we had well I'm just going to say we had quite a discussion >> right >> in the workshop about the 10% where it was specifically stated that we as a commission we can we can set that
standard but that does not preclude for future consider uh commissions to change that. We can't the only way we can can put it out ironclad is it would have to be in our charter
and we you know so >> okay sir I just want you say just there was confusion and we have it here in writing so just that was missed somehow and I just wanted to bring that to your attention the other thing um and it's probably best you know we all meet over a beer or something like that but uh I
just uh I grew up here also and I you know being reasonably new coming back to the city. I was gone for 18 years. I went into the military and did some other stuff with the government after that. But uh I was a manager of a comic book store on Central and when I was a
kid I had to run all the way to Annie Ziggloo or I had to go down to McDonald's to get food. There was nothing here at all. >> Um this city was literally a ghost town. There were structures upon structures and not a single thing in them. And I
just want to remind everybody that just because somebody becomes successful, now I don't have any money. I'm I'm a normal middle wage citizen here in Winter Haven. But uh just because somebody becomes successful, doesn't mean that they're getting special treatment or
they're the new evil conglomerate monopoly owner or anything like that. Uh 610 has done an amazing job in this city building a downtown that is active, vibrant, and safe. Uh, and I don't think it's fair to paint them in this light
where they're doing something wrong because they're getting contracts. Uh, again, I've only just recently met 610. Um, but I want to be careful about, you know, it's it's good to question who's getting what contracts. I don't have a problem with that, but I don't want anybody to be demonized for being
successful, especially after the fact. Like, we're enjoying the fruits of their labors. And if anybody's never owned a small business, investing in things is extraordinarily risky. You can ruin yourself financially. And they took all those risks. And now that they're doing well, and I don't know how
well they are, aren't doing, but we're already receiving the fruits of their labors. And I don't think it's fair to demonize them for continuing to uh do well. Um so I just want to uh caution everybody about, you know, pitchforks and and uh torches at 610 for doing
well. Uh the other part of that is I have to agree with um Miss Scubna uh those those points are irrefutable. You know if we have studies and things and you know certain properties have been overvalued. I think it is good to pump the brakes a little bit and take a look
at you know those numbers. I mean that's that's undeniable. And then to the other converse part of that we heard Mr. uh Caligritus stand up here and tell everybody warn everybody that is their private investment. if we don't make a move on it, he's going to
turn that space into buildings and that's more parking that's not going to be available to us. So, if a move isn't made to give parking and my business over on Fourth Street, we need parking. We do need it. Um, so if a move isn't made, that parking is going to go away.
So, I just wanted to caution everybody about that as well. Uh, thank you for your time. Appreciate it. >> All right. Thank you. Mayor, I did want to clarify um the ordinance that Mr. Marcelo was referring to. It goes on to say that the city manager may in fact do what he suggested, but only uh after
approval by the city commission. So, I just wanted to put that in context. You know, >> it it requires some form of an agreement in writing that would be recommended by the manager >> to the city commission. So, you would all have the ultimate say >> and that that was the discussion that we
had Wednesday night. That's >> right. Commissioner Dancler drove home that point by trying to see if we we could make it ironclad and we we cannot. And I I just want to say one other thing. Is there anyone else?
Now, Jesse, if you're coming back, you can't come back with the same thing. >> Okay. I'm not coming back with the same thing. Again, my name is Jesse Scubna, 103rd Street. I just um found the spot in Walker Consultant on page three. It
said municipality and county government should not require to de should not be required to develop standalone parking inventory to meet its economic growth initiatives. So I want to be clear I I am also
happy to have 610. and they have done wonderful things and this has nothing to do with them. It has to do with you're going to take all this money and the resources to put it into a garage that people are still not going to want to use for whatever reason. I I can't I
can't speak to why people don't want to use the garage, but they prefer on street parking. So once that $10 million is taken and put into that one resource, then you're going to use that to to further to to approve more development,
which is going to create a bigger parking problem than than what you're trying to to fix. So that that I caution you with. And another question that I had, an important question that I had was, "What happens if you approve this
tonight and then you cannot reach a an agreement on all of the logistics of it?" What happens then? >> I I can answer that real quick. If if if if an agreement can't be reached, the commission won't approve it.
>> Okay. So then that it would not go forward. Is that what you're saying? >> If we don't approve it. So this is just >> that's absolutely right formality and so it will come back. >> Okay. >> What what this is and and I think that sort of has been missed
is we have received an unsolicited proposal for a parking garage that we need to give some consideration to. >> Sure. >> And that's exactly what we're doing.
Now, you pointed out on several occasions before us that we've had a parking study done because we as a commission, and I can speak for me, I can't speak for the rest of the commissioners because I've been up here
for 23 years. And so, I have seen and have heard what we need. And so basically until now we didn't bite the bullet to try to build a
parking garage. And I just want to point out one other thing that you said in in your dissertation about the the acreage. We're not just buying the acreage. We'll be buying a parking garage on
whatever acreage that is. And I know you want to say something. I'm allow you to say it, but I'm going have say what I have to say first. Uh the total cost for that parking garage as compared to other garages, we're getting
a true value for that. So that's what we as commissioners when they bring back the the a a contract to us, that's what we will have to consider. So now, what else you have to say? I just don't know where you're finding
that value from. You put the $2 million evaluation for the property. So that is what >> the thing is is is that that's why we as commissioners, we rely on the information that's brought to us, the comparisons and that sort of thing. We
don't go out and do all that research ourselves. That's what our staff and other uh Jesse >> that's I'm waiting. >> All right. All right. That's what that's what we do. That's what the citizens elect us to
do. And so that's what we're doing. So now I'm not going to get into a backwards and forth with you. I just wanted to make that point to you. And so if you have some final comments that you want to make, you can do so at this time. >> Yes, I have also been downtown since 99.
So, I have seen the transformation of downtown and I have also witnessed a lot of um times where and I mean no defense offense to anybody, but people up here get things wrong and they are they give you the information wrong and then you
vote on information that's just not correct. And I've seen that for myself many and many times. I've got plenty of documentation to show that the people presenting this stuff to you do get it wrong. I and we all get things wrong. We're human. However,
I I just I caution you to move forward so quickly with this. I don't see what the problem would be to slow it down. I think that the market I know they say they're going to develop that lot and it is certainly their prerogative to sell it for what they want, to develop what they want. It is their own personal
property. However, I think the market is going to naturally slow them down. the demand for more apartments downtown has proven to to have slowed down. And I don't think it's just downtown and it has nothing to do at 610. I just think
that's where the market is heading. So, call their bluff if they if if that's what they say they're going to do. But anyways, it's our tax money. I'm just asking that you slow the process down and be and be responsible with our
money. Thank you. And I think that's exactly what we're considering. Anyone else? All right. If there's no one else, I will close the public hearing and reopen the city commission meeting. Is there any discussion? >> Can I just ask one question, mayor?
>> Yes. >> So, uh, first of all, I'm not I'm not voting on this item. Um, I've I've signed my form. um >> failed to apply >> due due to uh my employer may be involved with, you know, the potential
financing of the garage. So, um if there's that possibility out there, it just would not be appropriate for me to um to potentially vote on on this item. So my question is uh the mobility issue downtown and I
know that individual had to I think leave but if this garage actually came to fruition, would you envision that existing spaces around downtown would then become more handicapped spaces
since so so to help the mobility issue in and around downtown Winter Haven? So, let me answer that a couple ways if I can. First of all, I appreciate the comments that everybody shared this evening. Um, as well as those that came
out on the 24th and mobility and ADA was a prevalent theme during both of those. Um, we are engaged right now with Lakeland Area Mass Transit District to bring
micromobility into downtown to help get people from point A to point B and C and D and wherever beyond. Um, I don't anticipate that being a 247 operation. It's intended as it is in most places that have launched
micromobility to accommodate increased activity during certain days, times, events, the like. And so the ability for people to park once at a garage or at a surface lot or
wherever that may be that allows for extended parking, those routes to be laid out that whether you're getting picked up at a garage or you're getting picked up at a corner to get you from point to point to point. And that was one of the things that we
had heard certainly at the last meeting. Um in terms of converting existing spaces to ADA um handicap designated spaces. I think that that needs to be looked at and studied in the sense of
where is the appropriate place to do that. Um, thinking back several years now, uh, we didn't have very many, if any, on street handicap spaces. You know, within our surface
lots and some of our own facility lots, we did and we added some of those. I know when we shortly after renovating um, Central Park and then also factored those into other improvements at the parking piaza by the chamber as well as the one in South Central Park. So, I
think that yes, there's opportunity to do that. Uh, there's potential opportunity for drop off zones, but is to to be able to comment Mayor Pro Tim Yates on, you know, the number or where those would be, I'm I'm not in a position to to weigh in on that. But
that's certainly an opportunity that comes about um if you're pushing more people into into structures. But I would caution about doing anything that would negatively impact your existing on street parking at the same time.
Well, and I I again I know you can't you you can't say tonight, but just I think and who know if this doesn't come to fruition, then it's all a moot point anyways. But if it does, I think that there is an opportunity there to to potentially try to become more ADA
accessible in and around downtown. >> MJ, you want to talk about ADA? >> Yeah, let me have deputy city manager mention our uh ADA transition plan that's also underway. >> Yep. So, we are currently working on our ADA transition plan, which is a requirement um of the federal ADA program. Um so with that we will look at
a number of our facilities including things like um street parking um sidewalks, roadways, um all of those throughout the city and start to identify opportunities where we can make improvements and do better than we are currently if there are any existing opportunities to do so.
>> And those are both separate endeavors with or without >> parking garage. You know, we're not that we've talked micromobility for a while. Um, we had hoped to advance that sooner. We had some grant dollars to help us with that. Those grant dollars uh were I
don't want to say lost, but certainly stopped in the process of um federal uh efforts last winter and then certainly with the shutdown, our our ability to access those grant dollars has been significantly stymied. Um, so we've in
working with Lakeland Area Mass Transit District, uh, pursuing a different pathway to bring that micro transit component to town. Um, the ADA transition plan, regardless of whether there's a parking garage or not, that advances the way that it uh, it needs
to. Wayfinding, that was something that um, Mr. Marcel, if I'm pronouncing the name correctly, mentioned wayfinding at the last meeting. uh we are engaged in in uh wayfinding design to be able to launch that to help direct people to places throughout the downtown. Those
are independent. They'll certainly um they can complement a parking structure if if one is so desired to move forward through this process or others. Um but the uh those things will happen regardless. >> Any anyone else?
>> Yeah, I want to ask just a couple questions. Um, first of all, I want I just want to be clear that I'm not doing this for 610. I know that was made a comment a little while ago. I'm doing this for I'm considering this for Grove Roots and the Barrel and Lucille's and Egg Haven and Bowenard and Miguel over
there who I love eating at his restaurant, of course, Laugh Out Loud. Those are the people that I've been hearing from and I've been hearing from a lot of folks and and what I want to hear from is from anybody else that's here. what specifically can we do other than kicking this down two weeks or four
weeks and and I understand the sentiment you'd like to have more time and one of the great problems we have up here is getting word out you know this came up this actually came to us in midocctober and it went out to the chamber of commerce and downtown Main Street the
next day I think it went to the uh the CRA board I don't know but it's hard really to publicize this type of information um other than how we've done it. We asked them to share it with everybody. We I'm sure it was probably on our website in some way, shape, or
form. But I understand the sentiment that you didn't have enough time and it's difficult to it's difficult to get this information out. But what specifically do we need to give you that we haven't already that you need for us to kick this down the road? Okay, that's
I'm I just because I'm I'm trying to be responsive. I've I've gotten a lot of phone calls and I've had a lot of conversations about this from people and the universal conclusion is, "Yeah, we need more parking, but let's just kick this. Let's just think about this a little bit longer." Okay, I'm I'm okay with that if that's what we really have
to do, but what is it that we can provide you? And I'd like to hear from you tonight. What is it before we take this vote? What do you need from us from from team Michael or from from somebody that we're not that you don't have now that might that would compel us to delay
this? And I'm and I'm and I'm not being rhetorical. I'm really asking the question because I want to be responsive. I want to do the right thing by you everybody that's in the room and the people that I've talked to. But I haven't heard that. I've asked those questions. What what information do you need from us? And I've heard well we're
paying too much on a granular level. Yeah. Well, maybe we are. I know four years ago we were looking at paying $15,000 a piece for a space for a parking lot for a parking garage and we didn't do it then. Now we're double that. If we wait four or five more years it's liable to be triple that. I mean
prices are not going to come down. I don't see I don't see anything ever going down in in parking and anything like that. So I understand $2 million is a lot of money for this land. I get it. It's a lot of money to me. I don't I just I don't understand it. But I'm
looking at from a higher level, we're going to pay $34,000 per space. Whereas four years ago, it was 15 to $18,000 per space. If we wait four years down the road, it might be $60,000 of space. I don't know. I'm I'm just
conjecting. Um, but I really would like to know for us to delay this vote. What do we need? What more information do you need that we haven't provided you that would compel us not to do that? I mean, anybody want to come back up and
tell me? I mean, Jesse, you you've been kind of vocal. >> Commissioner Dancler, hold on. Hold on. Hold. I closed the public hearing. All right. I closed the public hearing. In my 23
years, I've never sat in a meeting where the public hearing was closed and then we reopened it. So, what I'm going to do is instead of opening a uh public hearing, I'm going to allow you to speak to us directly
>> as friends. Just as friends >> to us. Do I sit or get up? >> No, you got to come back up. And you've got to state your name and address for the record. Jesse Scubna, 103rd Street Southwest. Now, I do agree that there
are solutions. And when I say to slow it down, I feel like you could take that $10 million and and let's see if there's other sites where we can spread that out. And again, I do believe that 610's property is a good location for parking because there are several businesses
that already use it for parking and they clearly need it. So, if the city could purchase their land for a reasonable amount of money and all of the land and and turn it into a nice lot, I think that would be better for those businesses. Yes, that's only my opinion,
but I do believe that would be better for them. They wouldn't go the year of the construction where they would lose all of their parking for a year. Who can sustain that? These days, business is tough. So, there and then there is the Andy Thorn's lot. There are different
areas that the city could purchase and that $10,000 or that $10 million would go a lot further, I feel like. >> Okay. >> And and that's all I'm asking. I'm asking for to consider other things, >> okay, >> other places.
>> All right. Now, Commissioner Dansel, let me just let me just say that there's nothing that has been conjected or projected or talked about that we will not consider other options. Just to the
contrary, our parking study says to us not to just look at a parking garage, but look at surface parking. Okay, we've been considering that. Okay, this is a unsolicited proposal that has come
before us. Now when you start talking about the price of land, well if you're just going to buy a raw piece of land, there's nothing that we could do to compel in lie of and we would
never even consider that imminent domain to try to get a piece of property to build uh surface parking or that's that's not the question. So the the point that I think Commissioner Dancler
was asking, what we were here to do and what we are trying to come face to face with is a decision to consider an unsolicited
proposal for parking garage. not to solve all of our other parking problems around the city, but one specific problem. And what Commissioner Dancler was saying is that from uh all of the
phone calls and a lot of things that he's getting emails about a delay delay. What delay and do what? What more information could we provide or what do we need to
have to to to to in why should we increase the time? What what else do you need? That's what Commissioner Nash >> We need to know why people aren't willing to park in the current garage and are we going to repeat that with the $10 million?
>> Okay. Well, that that's that's that's one thing, but we we don't have the answer to that. I mean the no the whole question is whether or not the future of this city we're going to need a parking
garage and I I would say to you that uh our experts the people that we've tal that yes we and you you yourself say we need more parking so >> yes more parking so we addressing one
aspect because we have an unsolicited that proposal. So, Commissioner Dancler, she's not answering your question. So, >> what was the question? >> I kind of get it. >> All right. >> All right. Thank you, Jesse. >> Can you ask me a specific question so I can answer it?
>> No, you did answer your question. >> Okay. My point is people don't want to park in the garage. So, if you build another garage, you are going to have the same problem that we currently have less $10 million. >> Okay. >> So, thank you.
>> Thank you. That's your opinion. Thank you. >> So, um, the last thing I was going to make, the last point I was going to make is this is not the end all be all. Okay? So, what we're, and the mayor's made this point specifically, but I just want to
make it too that after um, if this passes and if this goes through, then there's a 7-day waiting period where this is advertised. And at that point, there will be negotiations held between the developer and staff. And then there will be more public hearings. There will
be more opportunity for the public to weigh in and voice their opinion on the actual deal on what it comes through. It may be it may be a better deal, maybe a worse deal. I don't know. Now, I I won't be on the commission at that time. So, I won't be able to vote on it, but I do tell you that I know that that there
will there will be some serious negotiations that will go on and at that point the commission at the time will have the opportunity to vet this, which they will do with all good faith and it will not be slanted just towards 610. That's the one thing. I mean, everybody talks about how long they've been in
Winter Haven. I was here in the 60s. I used to run up and down Third Street going to going to Gallup Club when there was nobody on the road. We used to jump out of our car and run around the car at every traffic light. So, and the building I'm in was occupied by pigeons
back in the 70s where my Raymond James office is. So, I I've I've seen a lot of changes, too. And and uh you know, God bless developers that come in here and do this stuff. And and and and this is a true public private partnership. Whether it's a good deal or not to me seems like
it is. I don't think the prices are any cheaper, but we'll see. The numbers will come in like they come in. T. Michael, city assistant city manager John Murphy. We'll structure the most favorable deal they can. 610 can live with it. They'll live with we'll make a deal. If we
can't, we'll walk away and still be friends. That's the way I see it. So, >> Mr. um you know, I I appreciate the fact that uh this is a uh probably a challenging decision to make. Um, since I've been on the commission uh the last
two years early on, the discussion of the parking garage was uh one of those uh items that was brought up. And I, you know, thinking about time, I had really no inclination of in terms of how long that perhaps would take for that to materialize. And I know this is the
first time uh city manager that we've done one of these. Is that correct? >> One of >> trying to do one of these >> a P3. Correct. Of this nature. Yes, sir. >> Right. And and I I think too that has come up as much sooner than some of us anticipated. Uh and so I think that's giving some
some pause for for many. Uh, one of the opportunities we had this past week being in the Florida League of Cities in Orlando, the conference and had a chance to talk to uh, some of the mayors uh, commissioners from different cities and
uh, it's really helpful, insightful when you have a conversation with others who are facing some of the similar or same challenges that we're facing today. And I was talking to the mayor from Clare Mount and u of course they their ch their their their commission has gone
through some changes and challenges to say the least. But one of the issues that we were talking about because that we were talking about parking garage and uh they had proposal well there's proposal to build a parking garage there uh pretty much the same size or very
similar size and cost of $13 million. And I thought about I knew our proposal I said darn like we getting a a better bargain for the same amount of space. Uh but the fact is that the parking is essential. We know that we need the
parking. Uh and I I hear the I hear the statement that no one wants to park in the parking garage. Now I was in Lakeland not long ago want to go to Harry's to the restaurant there. And of course like many many of you you ride around. It's packed. can't you can't get
on the street anywhere. Um and of course I'm in the parking garage no problem, you know, came right down right at Harry. So it was it was convenient. Uh when I come downtown Winter Haven, we come to a lot of different events for different things and uh I know the mayor
in particular, he he'll park in parking garage quicker than anybody I know. Um and I it's not necessarily on my radar for myself. Uh but I know if you don't have parking that is an available place that you can go and I do park in there uh from time to time when there is
nothing available. I think that you know for the future and what we're hoping to see uh as it relates to the city's growth and uh development. I'm proud of Winter Haven. I'm proud of what we see. I'm I'm proud of the fact that we are a
city that that's moving forward and we're advancing I think in a way that uh the people who are moving here, those who are here can appreciate. I think people appreciate the fact that some of us who've been here over 30 years like myself uh remember downtown being pretty
much a desolate place and uh but the activity and the vibrancy that we see today uh is is it makes you proud to be part of this city and part of uh uh what's happening here in Winter Haven. Uh I'm I'm certainly sympathetic to all
of the businesses that are there that who perhaps would benefit and we've heard tonight from some of them that definitely will uh from the parking garage being built or availability of it. I think the other challenge that we have is that the property uh is owned by
uh the developer and uh it is it is very valuable property and it is strategically whereas where it's located is essential to us and what we hope to do moving forward. Now, you know, 610 has uh advanced this this this
unsolicited proposal uh for us to consider and that's what we're doing. And um and I think as as been stated from the mayor that further discussions will be going forward with this, but we are at we're kind of at the point of I think moving the ball forward. Um but
I'm hopeful that uh we will come to some decision that will uh be in the best interest of everyone and that we are being responsible uh because that's one of the strategic uh pillars that we have to be uh responsible particularly with the monies that people uh invest in this
city. So uh I'm I'm excited. I'm looking forward to uh seeing what will come to pass as it relates to developments and other things that will uh encourage other businesses to even small businesses. You know, this the engine of we know of our of our country and we
want to encourage more small businesses to come and consider downtown with her haven. Right. Anyone else? >> All right. All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I oppose this by the same sign. Hearing
none, the motion passes. >> So, Mr. Mayor, just to again reiterate comments that you and and others in the city attorney had mentioned, that report will have to be now published and posted in the Lord
administrative register for seven days. Um, your action tonight does not direct me or authorize me to go out and spend $10 million to build a parking garage. The next step will be uh the methodical process of negotiating all
the terms and conditions of what a comprehensive agreement would look like. That will come back to you. I do not expect that to be back before you before the 1st of February at the absolute earliest. Um and at that point, that will be for you all to consider if you want to advance it at that point.
>> All right. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. We have no ordinances. Uh, first reading. Uh, new business. I think Vanessa Castillo will take >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Mayor. >> Article, >> this item
>> 13A. >> Thank you, mayor, commissioners. The city of Winter Haven 2025 runoff election for city commission. Seat number four was held on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025. Seat number four is currently occupied by Commissioner Dancler. Since no candidate received a
majority of at least 50% plus one of the votes cast in the November 4th, 2025 regular election, the runoff election was necessary. As far as the election results, the total number of ballots cast for seat number four are as follows. Matthew Crowley received 1,498
votes, which is 46.62% and Chad Davis received 1,715 votes, which is 53.38%. Cadmasine board members for this election consisted of Mayor Bertzong, Mayor Prom Yates, Commissioner Dancler,
Commissioner Mercer, and Commissioner Dolison. On November 25th, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., a logic and accuracy test was performed which determined that the voting equipment and/or devices were properly programmed and in working order. On Monday, December 1st, 2025, at
11:30, the canvasing board members met to authorize me to prepare the vote by mail ballots received at the Supervisor of Elections Operation Center for processing on election night. On Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., which was election day, the canvasing board met to canvas vote by
mail and provisional ballots and review the unofficial results of the election. On Friday, December 5th, 2025 at 10 a.m., the canvasing board um met to certify the election. They also met to randomly select a precinct, which was precinct 325, Samson Masonic Lodge for
post-election certification voting system audit, and that will be held on Tuesday, December 9th, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., which is tomorrow. Uh lastly, Commissioner Elect Chad Davis will be sworn in at the regular city commission meeting on Monday, January 12th, 2026 at
6 PM. And staff recommends the city commission approve the certification for the December 2nd, 2025 municipal runoff election. And I have that form here for you all to sign. >> Thank you. Commissioners,
entertain a motion. >> Motion to approve as presented. Thank you. I'll close the commission meeting, open the public hearing. If anyone would like to speak to this certification, you may do so at this time. >> Sure. There's no
closing public hearing. We open the city commission meeting. Is there any discussion >> as it relates to the audit that's tomorrow? Just to be sure, we've got everybody there that needs to be there. T will be there. Vanessa will be there. I've got to have three because I can't be there either.
>> Okay. >> I'll be there. >> Commissioner Dles, are you >> you'll be able Okay. So, >> you have three because we'll be at the TPO. >> Okay. So, Vanessa, myself, and Commissioner Dawson can serve as the canvasing board for that. Okay.
>> Thank you. >> All right. Any more discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I post this by the same sign. Hearing none, >> we've certified the election. Here we go. >> 13B affordable housing incentive strateg
strategies report 2025. Who's going to do it? Eric or T? >> I'll take that one, sir. Um, >> so this is the affordable housing incentive strategies report. The Sidowski affordable housing act is provided by the Florida legislature and codified as chapter 420 of Florida
statutes. states that SHIP jurisdictions are required annually to convene the affordable housing advisory committee to review their current incentive strategies, complete an affordable housing incentive strategies report which allows recommendations to be made to the local governing body and to
transmit that report to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. The AHAC convened on September 15th of this year to formally complete the review of existing incentive strategies and make recommendations regarding implementation of new strategies. The
committee recommended adoption of 10 strategies, eight of which are without modifications and two with actions recommended. One strategy was not recommended for adoption pending further research by staff for potential implementation. The two recommended
modifications are as follows. Incentive E pertains to accessory dwelling units and the AHACK recommends that the city modify its land development code to allow for multiple water and electric meters for single family lots on which there is an accessory dwelling unit. And
incentive G pertains to flexible lot configuration. The AHACK recommends the city modify its land development code to identify affordable housing, including tiny homes, as a specific criterion that is eligible for PUD zoning classification.
The AHAC conducted a statutoily required public meeting uh Monday of last week, December 1st, to receive public comment and consider formal adoption of the incentives report and its consideration by the commission. The A-Hack at that time voted unanimously to present this
to the commission. Public notice was published in the Winter Haven Sun on November 19th, 2025. There is no financial direct financial impact associated with this item. However, if the affordable housing incentive strategies report is not transmitted to
FHFC annually, the city's future SHIP allocations may be withheld. Staff recommends the city commission accept the affordable housing incentive strategies report and authorize city manager or designate to transmit same to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Thank you.
>> Thank you, >> commissioners. Mayor, >> yes. >> Motion to approve the report with the suggested changes. >> All right. Thank you. I will close the commission meeting, open the public hearing. If there's anyone that would like to speak to this item, you may do
so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing. We open the city commission meeting. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. >> I. Opposes by the same sign. The report is accepted.
>> Um, city manager. >> Sure. >> Do we have to um I don't see it on here anywhere about our next meeting. Are you >> there was consensus at your um agenda review that we would not have a
meeting on December 22nd or a agenda review the Wednesday preceding. >> Okay. I just wanted to make sure that was >> if you would all like to offer consensus again this evening in formal setting you're certainly we'll accept that. >> Yes. Thank you.
>> Is the consensus? >> Yeah. >> Yes. All right. You have it. >> Thank you. minutes will reflect that. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. All right. We're down to the commission lives on reports. Commissioner Dancler.
>> Well, before I begin, let's all draw our attention to Commissioner Yates's tie over there. He's got a tie on that really smells good and looks good. And that's that was a gift to him because he'll need it next year and the year after that and the year after that. So, I'm going to gift that tie to Mr. Commission to Mayor Pro Tim Yates. And
uh he just looked really really good in that tie today. So just >> where's HR when you need him? >> No. Um, first of all, I want to thank my commissioners for the naming of the tennis facility after me. That is an enormous honor and I am
uh so proud and I thank you so much for for your consideration in that. I have to tell you when I ran for office 13 years ago, there were several things I wanted to get done and first on my list was the was the new tennis facility. And I didn't want to just fix the one we had. I wanted to bulldoze it and start over.
And lo and behold, that's what we've done and we've turned it into something really, really special. Um, we have over 500 members out there that play tennis there and pickle ball and it's become the envy of communities all over Central Florida that come over here. They just can't believe how good a shape it is.
So, and I still have some letters in my file somewhere from Mayor Bird Song, Jeff Potter, Jamie Beckin, and JP Powell are all commissioners and all advocating for a new tennis facility. long maybe 20 years ago, I was sending out these letters to these guys and I still have
them somewhere and it's finally became a reality and I and I thank you guys. I will tell you though, I played tennis with a bunch of gnarly people and um we all hit the ball at each other. We try to kill each other. We're not like pickle ball where they're out there having fun. We're we play, you know,
killer tennis. And now that this thing's been and I'm the biggest guy out there anyway. They already hit at me anyway. I'm the biggest target. But now that this name's up there, I feel like they're going to hit at me more. So, I'm I'm afraid that you put a bigger target on my back. >> Oh, yeah. >> They're not gonna give me any corner. >> So, but yeah, you can count on that. But
but again, thank you guys. I'm I'm deeply honored and I'm just so appreciative of your consideration. So, >> Commissioner Dancer, you are going to have to up your game because people are going to expect that if the facility is named in your honor that you're the best player out there. >> Yeah, I'm gonna have to get I'm gonna have to get me a t-shirt with a bullseye
on my back because that's where they're going to be shooting at me. So, but anyway, um thank you so much for that. And uh and again, back to the parking garage. This was a tough vote. It wasn't a real tough It was It was a difficult vote
because I heard from a lot of people and I didn't want them to feel like I wasn't paying attention to them because I was I was trying to hear what they were saying. But the only thing I could kept hearing was we need to push it back. We need to push it back and I couldn't figure out why because if we'd have pushed it back two weeks or four weeks, I think the same conclusion would have
been reached. So anyway, um I think we made the right decision and um I know that the negotiations will be uh forthcoming and we'll see what happens. So other than that, I attended the tree lighting ceremony with everybody. I think everybody was here. So that was that was a good fun night. Chain Lakes
ribbon cutting. So proud of that place. I kept thinking about my dad down there. Almost got emotional thinking about my father and what that place would have meant to him. And of course, AHACK, my last committee meeting on Ahack, and I think uh Commissioner Dawson's going to take my place. We've got that place uh
rocking and rolling now. Ahack is moving in the right direction and really making a difference in people's lives. So, we had that that meeting as well. So, that's it for me. >> All right, Commissioner Marceler. >> Okay. Um I attended the ribbon cutting
at Chain of Lakes. The hills look wonderful, don't they? >> Oh, yes. Um, and of course we've done a lot of canvasing board meetings and um, uh, attended the chamber lunching for Advent Health and we learned some of the
ways that um, the healthc care field is going for the future. Um, it's kind of interesting on that. Um, she's still here. So, um, also we did the Christmas tree lighting and, um, there was a lot of
people at that. The did the Havenell Christmas parade and, uh, I there were a lot of people out there, too. I'm just really I don't think I've seen that many before.
>> We say that every year, though. It just bigger and bigger, better bigger and better, you know, all the time. Um, and also the Christmas I did the Christmas boat parade and um they um Julie is not here but anyway they upgraded the
>> she I think she's in one of our other rooms to give room in here but >> um they upgraded the marketing on that and some of the parks around the legs that were I mean you could see nothing but people just all lined up waiting in in that parking or in the park area and
um it was a little bit um I guess difficult for boating because of the weeds in the lake. Um they were you know you go a little bit forward and a little bit back. So to keep the weeds off of it but it it was a great like I said a great
parade. I I never seen so many people on that uh around around the lake and so it was really nice and your marketing paid off. So >> that's it. >> That's it. >> Commissioner Donaldson,
>> you know, I think the uh it was good discussion with regards to the parking garage. I don't know if it's a now or never type situation, but um and again, I I I recognize the fact that this this probably moved up faster than we thought, but uh it's an opportunity. And
uh I mentioned early on that when I first heard about it, you know, I was excited about it and thought that it was uh moving the right direction. Um and I understand progress sometimes uh and looking to the future you know particularly those who do master planning um is vitally important uh for
any city and I think that's that's leaning forward and trying to really uh make this the first class city I think that we are becoming uh in fact I believe we are now so uh to the staff and to uh those who work very hard on this I know this was not uh just a throw
together type situation you all worked very hard to u bring this to this point. I recognize that others may not appreciate that. Uh but uh as you know we were in the Florida league and someone said this said there is there is
what you see and then what is it what's the other term and then then what you the game you see but then that what you don't see. >> The game that is being the game that you see and the game that is being played. That's >> correct. And so, you know, and and and I appreciate that. That really was helpful because, you know, a lot of times what
you see and and what you really what's being played behind the scene are totally different and you have literally hardly any appreciation for that. All that goes into it, all the efforts that go into it. I think sometimes uh you know, it's easy to armchair quarterback
these things and and think that you have all the answers to them. I'm not suggesting that everything we do will be right. I'm just simply saying that that it's just helpful to recognize that there are people who do, I think, move in the best interest of this city and
not for their own self uh um interests. The um for league was very helpful. I did enjoy the session. Uh and again the opportunity just to talk to uh others who are are doing the same thing that
we're doing in terms of trying to uh really uh position our cities and deal with the challenges that that lawmakers make and how we uh try to work within that framework and even advancing our own concerns with home rule and some
people ask the question where is it now? Um, so I mean that's that's a big challenge, but it's just good to have those kind of exchanges and and and conversations. Ribbon cutting uh chain of lakes, I'm going to tell you when I walked into just walking into that
facility, uh, it is amazing. Uh, it is a beautiful facility. So well, it's meticulous. Everything is just done. I think with the excellence that uh I think that really makes Winter Haven and a lot of
people are talking about uh what has happened there. Uh the Christmas tree lighting uh the uh you know the weather was exceptionally nice and you know I think it was last year hot chocolate was the big deal. We ran out but they made
sure we had plenty this time for the children and uh but you know it was rather to see the crowd and and I don't know how many people they estimate how many came out or do we ever do estimates about crowds or anything of that nature? Do we have an idea? I
>> I don't off the top of my head, sir, but we can certainly work with staff to get some sense of what that may have been. >> It' be interesting to know because just having those numbers would be kind of interesting just to know how, you know, just kind of what we're seeing come down coming downtown. the uh tennis center.
Uh Bradley, I gotta tell you, uh I don't mind the name. I like the name. In fact, my oldest son's name Bradley. >> Yeah. >> And his great-grandfather's name, Bradley. >> There you go. >> Was Bradley. So, Bradley's a good name in our >> That's a good >> in our family. So, we appreciate that. We look forward to seeing it up on the
building. And I think it's an honor uh welld deserved uh of a man that has has given himself to this city in a very selfless way. And I appreciate you for all that you've done. I've known you, you and your family a long time. Um, also, uh, I know it was Alex
Santiago said that, uh, for the chain of lakes, he said, uh, uh, he was so impressive because normally he's an umpire. He said, we'd have to change out there in the parking lot in my in my car. He said, but now I got a place to come inside and, uh, they do have a very, very beautiful facility for that.
That's all I have. Mr. Mayor, may I prom? Well, you know, since we're renaming things, I still think that this tie can go right along with the wastewater treatment plan to some sort
of holding tank or or something. So, we'll we'll work on that in the coming year >> and and see how that that works out. >> Um, our coaching staff was really your your best player, so
>> Well, we had to beat the ops and you. There's always next year. Always next year. >> We always have to beat both. We just got lucky this year. >> Um, attended the uh, as they were mentioned, the baseball fields and just the history down there. I loved reading the I I didn't know some of that stuff
that dated back all the way back to Dennis and Field. Um, but just the history of of baseball and our community. Uh and to know now that baseball will our community will serve baseball up to the future generations is is pretty special. Uh and to do it with
that view is is incredible. Um I also attended the uh uh Ridge League legislative uh conference. I'm on the finance and taxation committee. As you can imagine, the number one topic was property taxes and what the
governor's assault on property taxes is. And um you know, it's just I I still question, you know, we just we don't know because all he's using is sound bites on, you know, that sound great. I mean, hey, I' I'd love not to pay property taxes, but I also want the
firemen to show up when my house is on fire. So, there's a lot of things to still be worked through on that. And um the league is is taking that headon and uh going to continue to um
you know u show the point of view from the municipalities and I caught him on governor on Fox and Friends the other day. So I mean he's making his rounds and everything he sounds sounds terrific but there's a reality to what he's sound biting as well. So we'll see how that
works out. attended uh also while I was there the Senate Bill 180 and and how that has affected, you know, other municipalities across the state and how just so many unintended consequences from that bill passing um has really
affected every every community in the state really. They asked everybody that was in that room said how who has been affected by every single hand was raised. So, um, that was not the intent of that bill.
Uh, as far as the parade goes, you know, I think we got lucky this year. As long as you threw all the kids a 67, whatever that means. >> They didn't want any candy, you know? They just wanted the 67. So, I don't
know. We kept them happy with 67s out there. Whatever that means. I don't know. Uh, you were there. You >> uh and then I will miss the next agenda review in January, but I will see you at
the next commission meeting on the 12th and just wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year and um look forward to 2026. >> Mayor, can I give my report my um >> You missed that. >> Yeah. >> Go ahead. Um my committee is municipal services
and our uh thing that uh we are uh presenting or that the uh league is presenting for us is uh sovereign immunity and that's the statute 768.28 28 and it is um basically says that
there are limits on um uh some in on the insurance I guess um that we have and it is um 200 um per person and or 300 per incident
and unless the entity has purchased additional insurance and then it's whatever Those limits are um the limits for sovereign immunity doesn't um um it's only for negligence
including personal in it doesn't include personal injury, property damages or wrongful death. It's only um for those employees that are acting um within their scope of work and they may have um
done something um that wasn't exactly proper in that field and that's what sovereign immunity uh addresses. Um like I said, it's not for personal injury or any of that. it's only puts
caps on on on that on the personal or on the employee side of things. So, um it will be um one of the offers was um it hasn't been increased since 2011. And so
if we did the CPI index and added it to it, it would make it $272,000 and for per per person and $382,000 for um per incident. um they still want to um initiate
500,000 and a million with an increased uh CPI index every year on top of that. So uh insurance has been is very expensive. We all know it. We all feel it. Uh but but for the city it will be a lot more
expensive for the future if this passes. So >> is that it? >> That's it. >> All right. Thank you. I'm gonna go quickly, but I just want to say one final word about the parking garage. The parking garage that we have now
was more than a notion. In fact, in order to get that parking garage, we had to get an earmark. That's how we got that parking garage
started, the current parking garage. So to, you know, we needed our park in there for the Christmas tree lighting. It was full as far as I could see. I mean, there was no
parking. I had not seen that many people downtown for Christmas tree lighting in in the years that I've been here. And I just my hats off to staff, the way they did things and to Main Street. It was really a great event. I really
thoroughly enjoyed it. Um the Florida League of Cities, our committee is natural resources and utilities. And there are two items that we we chose. One of them was the uh
searchcharge rates on utilities that they want to take away. If if if the legislature did that, it would definitely affect the city of Winter Haven. Um and the other one would definitely affect us, too. They want to
put a limit on uh enterprise fund transfers. And so I mean and that would hurt us as well. Now uh the one thing that was mentioned at the
league's uh that policy committee was that uh this conference was the largest in attendance that they had had in years.
our committee room was full and at the lunchons that was the uh statistic that we had more attendees than basically ever because there are some things that really will affect local government's
ability to provide the much needed services that their citizens need if certain things pass. Um, the chamber lunchon was great. The speaker was great. Advent Health really appreciated
it. Um, the chain of lakes ribbon cutting. I thoroughly enjoyed that. Now, I didn't have all the stories that that Brad had. I mean, you know, I won't go into that history, but at any rate, uh, my uh
there are two things that that happened during the time of that. Um, my wife got to sing the national anthem at one of the baseball games and so I mean that was really a treat for me. And the other
one was that Jim Rice because Otis was playing uh basketball and couldn't come for the naming of the the Otis Bird Sunfield. Jim Rice did the the presentation. So that that was that was
that was my highlight. Um and then the uh one of the final things that I did that I I really really really really enjoy is giving uh proclamations
to senior citizens. and I got a chance to give a proclamation to a 90 year old and uh Mrs. Bellamy and uh just a joyous
time and u thoroughly enjoyed it. So >> she got on the dance floor >> and she can still do the lion dance. So I mean you know there's hope for us. I don't see nobody laughing. But at any rate, that's it for me. City
attorney. Oh, one final thing. One final thing. Since we won't be meeting again before Christmas, I just want to wish everyone a merry, safe, and prosperous new year and a merry Christmas. All
right. Now, >> thank you, Mr. mayor commission and ditto those remarks regarding the happy holidays and hope everyone's safe and and really has a nice time. I also wanted to um to uh honor or to say um to Commissioner Dancler how how welld
deserved that honor was for you and um proud to be associated with you all these years and even prior to your service on the commission. you've always been involved in city matters of some kind or another and I expect you hopefully will still continue to be
involved. So, um, look forward to that. Look forward to that as well. Also, um, along that same vein, just wanted to congratulate Commissioner-elect Chad Davis who's here tonight in the audience with his folks. Um, it's a very big honor uh, for um, you know, folks to be
involved in the electoral process and the elections just in general. And so that's a that's a very um worthy thing. Uh just as a matter of housekeeping, the city manager and I plan to meet with commissioner elect Davis, I believe this Thursday to
begin the process of orientation. As you may understand, there's a charter provision, I think, or some provision in our code or charter that requires certain orientation and certain um onboarding, if you will, for newly elected commissioners that have not
experienced that before. Commissioner Dawson, sorry you've already gone through that. So, you will not have to go through that again unless you just want to, but um we're looking forward to that. Uh and looking forward to the opportunity to continue to be involved
in all the the the wonderful things that are happening here in the city. Um there's a lot of stuff going on. So, um anyway, that's it. Thank you all very much. >> City Manager. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Commissioners. Uh Mr. Davis, congratulations on your election. We look forward to working
with you as you get seated in January. That will take place. Our first meeting in January and um we'll celebrate those that have been on the commission and their official offices held the outgoing Commissioner Dancler and swearing in
Commissioner Dawson for his second term as well as Commissioner Davis for his first term. Um Mayor Bzong, you mentioned line dancing at the age of 90. We're going to put you to the test. Just a reminder, the city of Winter Haven employee holiday party is Saturday evening. We hope to see as
many of you there as possible. Um I on a personal note, I will be out of the office on Friday, so unavailable for the better part of the day. Uh Assistant City Manager Bird will be available to respond to any issues that come up that day. So feel free to tap him as often as
you need to that day. Let's get our full mileage there. And last but not least, um I'd like to invite uh Latana Harris forward. And uh this evening we're going to present Latana Harris with her certificate of recognition in
appreciation and recognition for 20 years of loyal service. Uh, >> Vanessa's going to join her down front and we'll get a photo of that. Commission wants to join her as well. That would be >> probably starting to burn.
Congratulations, Latana. And thank you for your years of service. Throw it on the floor. It's all right. >> All right. And mayor, commissioners, that concludes my comments for this evening. Thank you, >> Deputy City Manager. >> Good evening, Mayor Commissioners. Uh,
just a quick note. Uh well, first of all, I want to um commend Chad Davis on his uh commission election and uh thank Commissioner Dancler for all the guidance he's provided over the years. Um quick update on Quiet Zone. So, our final step in that process and moving
that forward with the Federal Railroad Administration is a visit from them. Uh we had that visit scheduled October 8th. I think I told you previously um that that was delayed due to the government shutdown. Now that those folks are back at work, uh they are way behind. So we
are trying to get on their calendar for the early part of next year. Um so we can hopefully get that process back on track, no pun intended. >> Are we uh just keeping Commissioner Powell's wife informed as as to what that process >> I will reach out to her? Yeah, we uh we
we talked with some folks um I think in the in the period of the government shutdown that that was kind of the next step and we were held up on it, but we'll reach out and do that. All right. Thank you, city clerk. >> And I just want to say ditto to the comments made regarding Commissioner
Dancler and Commissioner Elect Davis. >> Deputy City Clerk. All right. A final word. Uh Commissioner Dancler. Welld deserved. >> Thank you, sir. >> You took some of the shots that I didn't
have to take. I appreciate that. Well, we'll say our goodbyes first of January. >> All right. Yes. This is just a little short one. >> Yeah. Okay. >> You know, I'm gonna be longer than this. >> I know. I know. >> All right. And uh Elect Davis, welcome.
Good to see you here this evening. All right. Emergency matters not received for the agenda. Motion to adjurnn.